The Race to 5G: Exploring Spectrum Needs to Maintain U.S. Global Leadership - Ranking Member Bill Nelson Opening Statement

Statement

Today, we hear from the terrestrial wireless industry, the cable industry and the satellite industry about their spectrum needs and plans for next-generation 5G wireless services. These networks have great promise for the nation's digital future and the 5G future is near with companies preparing to deploy the technology soon. As a result, I understand the call for additional dedicated airwaves to support these 5G networks.

In particular, I am pleased that the committee will hear from the satellite industry, which is essential to so much of the nation's communications networks.

The next generation of satellite-based communications systems holds great promise. Many of these new worldwide constellations are in the testing phase and even Facebook has confirmed its interest in developing a satellite broadband platform to close the international digital divide. I am proud that the Space Coast in Florida is at the epicenter of so much of this innovation and investment.

The nation must maintain a balanced spectrum policy to support various types of wireless technologies as an engine of innovation. That means we need additional licensed spectrum for 5G and other services, but also, we have to make more spectrum available for unlicensed services. We should free up blocks of spectrum when we can, but given that relocating spectrum users has proven quite difficult, we should fully embrace spectrum sharing when we cannot.

And we cannot forget the need to make sure that the federal government, and in particular our national security and homeland security agencies, have enough spectrum today and into the future for their mission-critical operations.

It remains essential for us to make sure adequate spectrum is available for next-generation wireless services, but we need to take those steps in a thoughtful, non-partisan way.

We were able to pass the MOBILE NOW bill earlier this year to help foster this 5G revolution -- a bill developed through that bipartisan collaborative process. And I know we will continue to work together to address additional spectrum issues, including those being raised by our witnesses today.

Although the purpose of this hearing is spectrum, let me say a quick word about infrastructure since the prepared remarks of several of our witnesses talk about the issue.

It is true that 5G networks are designed around denser wireless infrastructure, made up of many small cell facilities. I know the chairman has a bill on this siting process, and I know that I am not alone in receiving a lot of passionate feedback from local officials, public power companies and others about that bill. I look forward to having a robust conversation about the bill at a future hearing, which must include participation by local government and other interested stakeholders.

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