Coburn blocks floor action on bipartisan spectrum bill

Sen Tom Coburn (R-OK) is blocking legislation that seeks to implement a key spectrum-related recommendation in the national broadband plan.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), requires the Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct an inventory of government-controlled airwaves to identify additional frequencies that could be devoted to wireless broadband service.

Multiple efforts to "hotline" the legislation to gauge whether it could pass by unanimous consent -- including an attempt late last week -- were stymied by Sen Coburn, who is concerned that taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab to conduct the inventory, estimated at roughly $22 million. The senator has a history of delaying measures he believes would increase the federal deficit because they lack offsetting funds.

The offices of Sen Kerry and co-sponsor Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) have been reaching out to Sen Coburn with ideas for paying for the legislation and hope the delay won't last more than a few weeks. They're also emphasizing that the bill would benefit taxpayers by enabling the auction of unused and underutilized airwaves, with the proceeds going to the Treasury.

"Dr. Coburn believes our budget crisis is more pressing than our bandwidth crisis. Congress should pay for this bill by reducing wasteful spending instead of borrowing more from future generations," said John Hart, the senator's communications director.

The House passed -- on a 394-18 vote -- a similar bill on April 14.