Spectrum Coordination Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2501, the Spectrum Coordination Act, which was introduced by Representative Bilirakis.

For decades, the United States has led the world in wireless innovation. That leadership was built on effective spectrum management. As we look to beat China and usher in the next wave of wireless technology, we must continue to make more spectrum available, both for commercial and government uses.

As the demand for more wireless technology grows, spectrum management decisions, like balancing commercial and government uses, have become more complex.

For nearly a century, the Federal Communications Commission has effectively managed commercial spectrum use. As the expert technical agency on spectrum matters, the FCC must continue to rely on science and engineering as its guide.

Just as the demand for commercial spectrum continues to grow, so does demand for government spectrum, specifically for use by Federal agencies. Access to spectrum is an important ingredient to the missions of many Federal agencies. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the NTIA, is also responsible for managing Federal spectrum uses.

The NTIA and the FCC must work together to maintain the United States' wireless leadership, and it is essential that the NTIA continues to lead the executive branch's spectrum coordination efforts.

To help formalize these coordination efforts, in 2003 the FCC and the NTIA signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate Federal and non-Federal spectrum matters to ensure our spectrum is put to its highest and best use. This interagency agreement has not been updated in nearly 20 years.

Today's legislation requires the FCC and the NTIA to update their MOU to reflect the new spectrum management landscape so the United States will retain its wireless leadership for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the co-lead on this legislation.

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Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

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Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.

First, I thank the chairman of our Energy and Commerce Committee for helping get this bill to the floor. I greatly appreciate his work and leadership, and also for the members' work on this, and also the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle), as the chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.

As we have heard today, the United States has to retain its leadership in wireless for the years to come, and it really requires the FCC and the NTIA to work together, especially on this MOU, because of the new spectrum management that we have to have out there and the landscape that we have.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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