5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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.
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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.

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.

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