S.911: Senators Set Sights On Spectrum

The Senate Commerce Committee has approved S.911, a bill – co-sponsored by the Committee’s Republican and Democratic leaders – which provides perhaps the most detailed legislative effort advanced thus far to move incentive spectrum auctions closer to reality. The bill now goes to the full Senate for its consideration, which is far from guaranteed at this point. Additionally, action on some corresponding bill (which has not yet surfaced) in the House will be necessary before S.911 becomes law. So we still have a ways to go before incentive auctions become reality. But given its bipartisan origins and the fact that it’s already made it to the full Senate, S.911 is probably the horse to watch in the race among incentive auction bills.