Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband: Issues for Congress

This report considers the possibility of modifying spectrum policy: (1) to support national goals for broadband deployment by placing more emphasis on attracting new providers of wireless broadband services; and (2) to accommodate the wireless broadband needs of industries that are considered by many to be the economic drivers of the future, not only communications, but also areas such as energy, health care, transportation, and education. Among the spectrum policy initiatives that have been proposed in Congress are: allocating more spectrum for unlicensed use; auctioning airwaves currently allocated for federal use; and devising new fees on spectrum use, notably those collected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC's statutory authority to implement these measures is limited. Substantive modifications in spectrum policy would almost surely require congressional action. The Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (S. 649, Senator Kerry) represents a preliminary step in evaluating policy changes by requiring an inventory of existing users on prime radio frequencies. The FCC also has the opportunity to establish a new course for spectrum policy in the preparation of a Congressionally mandated report on broadband policy, due in February 2010.


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#	File Name	Document Date	Order ID:	Number of Pages	Price
1	R40674_07_21_2009.pdf	Jun 29, 2009	R40674	29	$29.95	Add to Cart

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