Spectrum Rules Stuck in Holding Pattern

Stakeholders in the year-long debate over spectrum legislation find themselves in a bit of a holding pattern while lawmakers try to figure out how to break a congressional logjam over how to extend a payroll-tax holiday.

House GOP leaders included a version of spectrum legislation approved earlier this month by the Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee in legislation the House passed last week providing a one-year extension of the payroll-tax cut. But the package passed by the Senate on Dec 17 providing a two-month payroll-tax holiday did not include spectrum legislation. On Dec 20, House GOP leaders balked at calls to pass the Senate’s payroll bill before leaving town for its holiday break, and instead say they want to negotiate with the Senate over the differences between the two bills.

The spectrum legislation seeks to free up more spectrum for wireless broadband technologies by enticing broadcasters to give up some of their airwaves in exchange for some of the money from auctioning that spectrum, while also producing funds for the Treasury. It also would provide spectrum and authorize funding to help public-safety officials build a national broadband network to improve communications at the scene of emergencies. Public safety officials, House Democrats, and supporters of a Senate Commerce spectrum bill have concerns with several provisions in the House bill. The impasse over the payroll legislation may at the very least give lawmakers more time to work through some of the remaining differences between the House and Senate versions.