S. 234 Wireless Innovation Act of 2007
Summary:
On January 9, 2007, Sen John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Wireless Innovation Act of 2007 (S. 234), to make broadband available to unconnected communities by exploiting unused frequencies in the broadcast spectrum known as “white spaces.â€
The bill would serve communities large and small, enabling the delivery of broadband that will connect business owners with their customers, students with dynamic new learning resources and first responders with victims in crisis.
The WIN Act specifically requires the FCC to permit license-free use of the unassigned broadcast spectrum between 54MHz and 698 MHz within 180 days of enactment. This legislation will enable entrepreneurs to provide affordable, competitive high-speed wireless broadband services in areas that otherwise have no connectivity to broadband Internet.
* Read press release
* Read text of bill
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1/9/2007 -- Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
Supporters:
Sen John Kerry (D-MA)
Cosponsors:
Gordon Smith (R-OR) -- 1/12/2007
* Free Press
"Free Press... urges the Senate to move quickly to pass the Wireless Innovation Act of 2007. This bill holds the potential to create universal, affordable broadband access across the United States. Greater access to unlicensed spectrum in the low-frequency bands would improve local emergency communications networks, nurture the growth of small business and entrepreneurship, generate competition in the broadband market, and ensure that underserved areas are not left behind as technology advances in the 21st century. The expansion of unlicensed spectrum in particular will create a boom in innovative technologies and expand the opportunities for citizens to communicate. The unlicensed spectrum currently available - just 2 percent of the total spectrum that is commercially available - already has spurred entrepreneurship and technological innovation, generating billions of dollars in new business for manufacturers, retailers and providers. This is a critical issue whose time has come."
Legislation Date:
January 8, 2007 
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