Congress Meets Trump’s Deadline for Budget Package Passage
The Republican-led House passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” by a 218-214 vote on Thursday. The vote came after a more than eight hour and forty-four minute protest speech by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
The Senate previously passed the massive bill after almost 48 hours of reading, debate and voting on various amendments before sending it to the House. Lawmakers sought to meet Trump’s deadline to get the bill to his desk by July 4. The Act would extend Trump’s tax cuts and boost his border funding priorities while reforming Medicaid and food assistance programs.
The Act calls for the restoration of the FCC’s auction authority. Turning to spectrum language, “the questions now are about how much spectrum will be auctioned, what specific bands will be ineligible for auction, and what the process to choose the spectrum bands for reallocation and auction will look like,” wrote New Street Research (NSR) Policy Advisor Blair Levin and NSR Equity Research Analyst Philip Burnett recently in a client report. They believed the Senate language was likely to be the version in the final bill. It calls for the identification of at least 600 MHz of spectrum to be auctioned and reallocated for commercial use for “mobile broadband services, fixed broadband services, or a combination,” according to the text.
“NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association applauds the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB),” said NATE President/CEO Todd Schlekeway. “After years of gridlock, Congress has finally reauthorized the FCC’s spectrum auction authority and set out a spectrum pipeline that is critical for future deployments. This legislation will put American infrastructure builders to work and enable the U.S. to truly lead the world in next generation wireless connectivity.”
Schlekeway continued, “NATE commends the Congressional leadership that championed this bill and looks forward to the legislation’s effective implementation. As the trusted voice of the tower and communications infrastructure industry, NATE’s small business contractor firms and their technician workforce stand ready to help turn the promises of the OBBB into tangible progress and connectivity for every American.”
After the House vote, WIA President/CEO Patrick Halley said, “Congress has taken a first major step toward a more connected and competitive America with the passage of a spectrum pipeline and FCC auction authority in the reconciliation package. We thank Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Cruz, the members of both the House and Senate Commerce Committees and the leadership of the House and Senate for getting this done. We look forward to working with them to advance smart permitting policies needed to ensure Americans receive the benefits of this new spectrum as quickly as possible.”
Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) President/CEO Tim Donovan stated, “CCA thanks Congress for reinstating the FCC’s spectrum auction authority and establishing blueprints for future spectrum auctions. This long overdue action will help meet consumer demand, remove obstacles to U.S. global leadership, and is essential to closing the digital divide for rural America. CCA looks forward to working with the FCC and other stakeholders to provide our members with meaningful opportunities to access spectrum, drive innovation, and continue investments in next-generation technologies.”
CTIA President/CEO Ajit Pai said, “On behalf of the wireless industry, I commend Congress on the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This critical legislation will fuel America’s wireless networks with the spectrum needed to meet rapidly growing consumer demand and secure America’s leadership in the industries and innovations of the future. And the tax provisions are vital to advancing infrastructure investment, creating jobs, and growing the economy.”
He thanked President Trump, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) “for their bold vision and commitment. Because of their steadfast leadership, America is once again back on track to lead the world in 5G.”
“Updating the nation’s tax code—including through 100% expensing and deductible interest, in combination with unleashing additional spectrum—will help ensure a more connected future for all American communities and families,” said USTelecom President/CEO Jonathan Spalter. “On behalf of our nation’s communications providers, we thank Congress and the Administration for taking these important steps to accelerate our broadband future.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
