Shapiro Hails House, Senate Introduction of Federal Spectrum Incentive Act

CEA hails House and Senate introductions of the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act because it offers new incentives for federal agencies to relinquish underused spectrum for commercial mobile broadband services, President Gary Shapiro said Thursday in a statement. The bipartisan legislation is "an important step forward in helping the American consumer” by giving agencies “appropriate incentives” to “quickly vacate or share spectrum, ensuring that consumers have access to the most robust mobile broadband networks,” Shapiro said. The House version (HR-1641) was introduced by Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., while the Senate counterpart (S-887) was introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Edward Markey, D-Mass. The bills let federal agencies share a portion of the proceeds generated by an auction of relinquished spectrum, the sponsors said (see 1503260029) Thursday in a joint news release.