Congress is sparring over how to split up $28 billion worth of broadband spectrum slated for auction, with California Democrats pushing to leave some of the airwaves unlicensed, touting the move as a boon for technology business.
The Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum Act, or JOBS Act, soon to head to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will sell unused television spectrum to wireless carriers to help them meet rising demand for bandwidth. Funds from the sale will go to a national emergency services network, a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
In a subcommittee hearing yesterday, Democrats voiced concern that the bill would prevent the FCC from carving out free, unlicensed blocks of spectrum, used in everyday devices such as Bluetooths, cordless phones, wireless mice and long-range “super” WiFi — key, they say, to tech start-ups.
“I’m deeply disappointed in the unfortunate policy objective in this bill towards unlicensed spectrum,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo, who represents much of Silicon Valley. “Closing spectrum bands to future innovation is foolhardy.”
Eshoo and Los Angeles Rep. Henry Waxman presented an alternative to the Republican-sponsored JOBS Act, the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act, that includes provisions for broadband transmissions on free-for-all bandwidth.