Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) reintroduced the Government Spectrum Valuation Act Wednesday. The measure mandates the government to put a monetary value on unlicensed spectrum that’s allocated or assigned to federal agencies. Currently this spectrum is assigned zero value by the Congressional Budget Office.
“So much of the technology we depend on in modern life depends on radio frequency spectrum,” said Lee. “Unfortunately, this fixed resource is becoming increasingly in demand and congested; and we do not currently have a way of making sure that federal spectrum is being efficiently allocated and managed. This bill will provide us with data that we need to better manage federally held spectrum, and to better facilitate a strategy for operating our current technologies and future innovations.”
Specifically, the Government Spectrum Valuation Act would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the FCC to estimate the value of federal spectrum between 3 kHz and 95 GHz for licensed or unlicensed uses. The valuation must happen over the next three years, and every three years thereafter.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, called the measure “common-sense legislation.” President & CEO Todd Schlekeway said: “The association shares the views expressed by Sen. Lee that more efficient, effective management of the nation’s spectrum must be a national priority. NATE believes proper valuation of government-held spectrum is imperative and could ultimately pave the way for more industry access to this spectrum; doing so will translate into more deployment opportunities for our members, who transform these valuable radio frequency airwaves into connectivity.”
CTIA applauded the measure as well, calling federal spectrum a “valuable taxpayer resource,” essential to the 5G economy. “Next-generation networks are expected to contribute $1.5 trillion to our GDP and create 4.5 million jobs in the next decade,” said CTIA SVP Government Affairs Kelly Cole. “This legislation will ensure lawmakers and the administration are equipped to put federal spectrum to its highest and best use, fueling our economic recovery.”
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