Doyle Circulates Draft 5G Acceleration Act

House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., circulated a discussion draft version of his 5G Acceleration Act Wednesday, as expected (see 1706260064). The bill would require the FCC to identify 200 MHz of new spectrum below 7 GHz for auction by Jan. 1, 2023, and begin an auction of that spectrum by July 1, 2025. It would direct the FCC and NTIA to issue a report identifying another 300 MHz of spectrum below 7 GHz by Jan. 1 and would require the FCC to issue a notice of inquiry on making available spectrum below 12 GHz. “Getting additional spectrum on the market will help fuel the growth of technologies that are projected to expand dramatically in the next few years, such as the Internet of Things, Smart Cities, and 5G wireless broadband,” Doyle said in a news release. “This spectrum is also key to connecting rural America to the rest of the world -- as well as creating faster, cheaper options for underserved areas and populations.”