Senators Warner, Wicker Introduce Federal Spectrum Relocation Bill

Sens Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced a bill that would require federal agencies to provide more information on spectrum relocation projects at the outset, and would create a technical review panel to help develop relocation plans, and provide for spectrum sharing during transition period.

The government is pushing federal and commercial users to share their spectrum -- or give some of it up -- so the government can reclaim some of it for auctioning to wireless broadband companies. The bill would apply to federal users. The goal of the bill is to encourage broadband deployment by improving the auction process. Sens Wicker and Warner point to the 2006 Advanced Wireless Services auction, in which federal spectrum was auctioned for advanced wireless, but problems caused build-out and deployment delays. They are looking to speed the process as the government looks to start auctioning news blocks of spectrum for wireless broadband to head off what they argue is a looming spectrum crisis.