[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6798-H6799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





            5G SPECTRUM AUTHORITY LICENSING ENFORCEMENT ACT

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 2787) to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to process 
applications for spectrum licenses from applicants who were successful 
bidders in an auction before the authority of the Commission to conduct 
auctions expired on March 9, 2023.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2787

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``5G Spectrum Authority 
     Licensing Enforcement Act'' or the ``5G SALE Act''.

     SEC. 2. FCC PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR SPECTRUM LICENSES 
                   AWARDED BY AUCTION.

       In the case of any applicant for a license or permit for 
     the use of spectrum in the band of frequencies between 2496 
     megahertz and 2690 megahertz, inclusive, that the Federal 
     Communications Commission selected through a system of 
     competitive bidding conducted under section 309(j) of the 
     Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)) on or before 
     March 9, 2023, and to whom the Commission has not granted the 
     license or permit as of the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Commission may process the application of the applicant 
     during the 90-day period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2787, the 5G SALE Act, which 
will help restore trust in our Nation's wireless technology ecosystem 
and enable faster mobile broadband service for millions of Americans 
nearly overnight.
  The 5G SALE Act would deliver on our promise to provide access to our 
airways for those who successfully won a license at auction before 
March 9, 2023. These licenses have been locked up since the expiration 
of the Federal Communications Commission's auction authority earlier 
this year.
  While I will continue to work with my colleagues on a long-term 
solution to reauthorize auction authority, today's legislation is a 
positive step to ensuring that the FCC can finalize the review and 
award licenses to companies whose checks have already cleared the 
Treasury.
  The 5G SALE Act will ensure that those relying on advanced mobile 
broadband services, especially our veterans who access VA telehealth 
services, will benefit from American investment in these technologies.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2787, the 5G Spectrum Authority 
Licensing Enforcement Act, or the 5G SALE Act.
  Spectrum is one of our country's most important natural resources. 
These radio waves are a critical component in building next-generation 
wireless networks and delivering connectivity to Americans across the 
country. Without spectrum, our wireless networks would not be able to 
help millions of Americans study for school, meet with their health 
provider, connect with family and friends, and place a call to 911 
during a time of need. In order to have this kind of connectivity that 
we have all come to expect, we must ensure that consumers have access 
to the spectrum that has been made available for commercial wireless 
use.
  S. 2787 achieves these objectives. This legislation gives the FCC the 
authority for 90 days to process spectrum license applications that are 
currently pending at the agency from its auction last year of the 2.2 
gigahertz band. While I hoped Congress would have extended the SEC 
spectrum auction authority by now, this legislation is an important 
step forward in allowing commercial spectrum to be used by consumers, 
especially those in unserved areas and rural communities.
  It is important that we pass this bill today, but even with this 
action, our work will still not be done. We must find a way forward on 
a bipartisan, bicameral spectrum agreement that can be sent to the 
President's desk for his signature. As Chair Rodgers and I have said 
for months, it is critical that we reauthorize the FCC spectrum auction 
authority as soon as possible. I am concerned that this lapse will 
hinder us on the international stage, especially with the World 
Radiocommunication Conference taking place right now in Dubai.
  I commend Representatives Kuster and Joyce for their bipartisan work 
on the House companion to this bill, H.R. 5677. This important bill 
helps advance America's wireless leadership by ensuring that 5G 
spectrum is deployed quickly so that we can further improve consumers' 
wireless service all around the Nation, especially in rural 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in a 
bipartisan manner so it can be sent shortly to the President's desk, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my good friend representing the 13th 
District.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill will 
grant the FCC temporary authority to issue over 7,500 licenses that 
have been stalled while the spectrum auction authority has lapsed. To 
address this issue, I am proud to be the sponsor of the 5G SALE Act, 
which was unanimously reported out of committee.
  It has now been more than a year since Auction 108 was conducted by 
the FCC for these 2.5 gigahertz band licenses. During the auction, more 
than $400 million was raised by 63 bidders. Releasing these licenses 
will mean greater competition among providers and money funneled into 
our economy.
  The 5G SALE Act would cut through bureaucratic red tape and help get 
more Americans connected to high-speed coverage than ever before. 
Especially in rural areas, where I represent, in Pennsylvania's south 
central and southwestern area, coverage can be scarce. Congress must 
work to ensure that students, patients, workers, and farmers all have 
access to 5G internet.
  In places where seeing a medical specialist can mean a 2-hour drive, 
access to reliable 5G connection can be life-changing for a patient. 
These connections are invaluable also for our farmers, as they use 
precision farming to plant crops and harvest.

                              {time}  1715

  Access to the internet is vital for our students as they work to do 
their homework--their homework at home, not in the parking lot outside 
of a convenience store.
  Recently, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology heard 
from Chair Rosenworcel that the FCC would devote the necessary 
resources and time to ensure that these licenses would be issued as 
quickly as possible once this legislation is enacted.
  I am grateful for all the work that went into advancing this 
commonsense legislation to help connect more Americans than ever 
before.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
bill.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation. Obviously, 
we would like to see spectrum authority in general be authorized, but 
this is important on its own.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of the bill on a bipartisan basis, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, as the minority has said, we need more 
spectrum, not less, and we have to win the race for 5G.
  We have seen, over time, as I have spoken with people across the 
country for years, it was like the United States was way ahead in 5G, 
but as time went by, then all of a sudden, we were just a little bit 
ahead or maybe we were even. If we are going to win this race, we have 
to have 5G out there. It is absolutely essential.

[[Page H6799]]

  During COVID, some of the things that happened have already been 
mentioned--telehealth services, the business side, education.
  For families to stay connected, it is absolutely essential that we 
have more broadband out there, not less.
  We need to keep our promise to those that won these auctions that 
these airways will be available to them.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 2787.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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