Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Kerry, to re-introduce comprehensive spectrum reform legislation to modernize our nation's radio spectrum planning, management, and coordination activities. Taking this corrective action will allow us to meet the future telecommunications needs of all spectrum users. For consumers, these fixes will lead to additional choices, greater innovation, lower prices, and more reliable services.

Over the past year, there has been growing concern about a looming radio spectrum crisis. It is not without reason--growth and innovation within spectrum-based services have exploded over the past decade. In particular, the cellular industry has been a prominent driver of this expansion. Currently, there are more than 290 million wireless subscribers in the U.S., and American consumers use more than 6.4 billion minutes of air time per day.

While the foundation for wireless services has been voice communication, more subscribers are utilizing it for broadband through the use of smartphones and netbooks--smartphones actually outsold personal computers in the last quarter of 2010. According to the Pew Research Center, 56 percent of adult Americans have accessed the Internet via a wireless device. ABI Research forecasts there will be 150 million mobile broadband subscribers by 2014--a 2,900 percent increase from 2007. Spectrum is so important that both the Federal Communications Commission and the President have made it a priority to find additional spectrum for wireless broadband so providers have the necessary capacity to meet the growing demand of consumers and businesses alike.

There are constraints however, spectrum is a finite resource, and we cannot manufacture new spectrum. Making matters worse, the government's current spectrum management framework is inefficient and has not kept up with technological advancements. As evidence, the Government Accountability Office, in a series of reports, concluded ``the current structure and management of spectrum use in the U.S. does not encourage the development and use of some spectrum efficient technologies.''

The legislation we are re-introducing today fixes the fundamental deficiencies that exist in spectrum management and promotes efforts to improve spectrum efficiency. Specifically, the Reforming Airwaves by Developing Incentives and Opportunistic Sharing, RADIOS, Act tasks the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, to conduct the fundamental first step of a comprehensive inventory of radio spectrum and to perform much-needed spectrum measurements to determine actual usage and occupancy rates. This data would provide decision makers at the FCC, NTIA, and Congress a clearer, more detailed, and up-to-date understanding of how spectrum is currently being used and by whom--data essential to sound policy decisions and spectrum management.

The bill also requires a cost-benefit analysis of spectrum relocation opportunities to move certain incumbent users and services to more efficient spectrum bands. Many legacy wireless services could employ newer technologies to provide more efficient use of spectrum. The legislation would also establish Wi-Fi hot-spots and allow the installation of wireless antenna systems and base stations, such as femtocells, in all publicly accessible Federal buildings as well as streamline Federal rights-of-way and wireless tower sitings on Federal buildings. Such efforts would improve wireless and broadband coverage for Americans and also result in lower costs to taxpayers since spectrum would be utilized more effectively by Federal agencies.

In addition, my bill requires greater collaboration between the FCC and NTIA on spectrum policy and management related issues, implementation of spectrum sharing and reuse programs, as well as more market-based incentives to promote efficient spectrum use. It also sets a deadline for the creation of the National Strategic Spectrum Plan, which will provide a long-term vision for domestic spectrum use and strategies to meet those needs. While the National Broadband Plan touches on several of these areas, this legislation will provide greater assistance in developing the 21st Century comprehensive spectrum policy necessary to meet the future spectrum needs of all users.

It should be noted the RADIOS Act is intended to complement the National Broadband Plan and the recently announced Presidential Wireless Initiative in promoting more efficient use of spectrum and ensuring that the proper framework is in place to meet America's future telecommunications needs. But it also encourages greater focus on other areas outside the Plan and the Initiative by promoting technological innovation and more robust spectrum management.

Senator Kerry and I envision this legislation to be a supplement to other legislative efforts related to spectrum. And we look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and with all stakeholders to advance comprehensive 21st Century spectrum policy necessary to meet the future spectrum needs of all users.

Our Nation's competitiveness, economy, and national security demand that we allocate the necessary attention to this policy shortcoming--it is the only way we will be able to avert a looming spectrum crisis and continue to realize the boundless benefits of spectrum-based services. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join Senator Kerry and me in supporting this critical legislation.

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