Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022

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 strong support of H.R. 7624, the Spectrum Innovation Act, which I am pleased to lead with my good friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle), the subcommittee chair.

I thank Mr. Doyle for working with me and my colleagues over the last several months to make improvements to the Spectrum Innovation Act and earn broad Republican support through the committee process. The legislation passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 52-0, which is a testament to the bipartisan achievements that are included in this bill.

The Spectrum Innovation Act provides clarity and direction to NTIA to repurpose spectrum currently used by Federal agencies for commercial use. By providing this certainty, we will ensure that this auction receives the necessary oversight and certainty to result in a success for both Federal agencies and the American taxpayer.

It also includes the Extending America's Spectrum Auction Leadership Act of 2022, which will extend the Federal Communications Commission's general auction authority for 18 months. Currently, this authority is set to expire on September 30. Without action, the FCC will not be able to make more airwaves available for 5G and wireless broadband services in rural areas.

With the proceeds of these auctions, Congress is funding critical public safety and national security priorities. The FCC is currently facing a $3.08 billion shortfall in funding to rip and replace untrusted equipment from our communications, like Huawei and ZTE, which this bill would address. Recent news reports further underscore the need to remove this equipment quickly to protect Americans from Chinese espionage.

Additionally, this legislation would provide up to $10 billion in future auction proceeds to upgrade our 911 infrastructure. For nearly a decade, Congress has worked to identify a path forward on facilitating a coordinated, nationwide transition to Next Generation 911. Today's legislation will bring that vision to life.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues Mr. Hudson and Ms. Eshoo for their dedication to bringing the public safety community, 911 professionals, and States together on this solution.

Finally, the Spectrum Innovation Act also includes the SMART Spectrum Act, legislation sponsored by my colleague from Kentucky, Mr. Guthrie, which will provide the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with another tool to help NTIA better manage the spectrum by Federal agencies.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased that we are funding these important priorities without adding more to the national deficit.

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

Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, again, there are many points why it is very important that this piece of legislation does pass.

Number one, the Spectrum Innovation Act provides clarity and direction to NTIA to repurpose spectrums currently used by Federal agencies for commercial use.

Second, it is going to extend the Federal Communications Commission's general auction authority from 18 months.

Third, its replacement is so absolutely important because we have to make sure we remove this untrustworthy equipment from our communications networks.

Fourth, it will help provide up to $10 billion to help upgrade our 911 systems that we have to make sure are upgraded because as time goes by, it is absolutely essential.

Finally, it is going to help NTIA better manage our spectrums.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this very important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I would just like to reiterate how important H.R. 7624 is to future technologies and to NextGen 911. This is, as was said, a bill that passed out of our committee unanimously, 52-0.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give it their support when it comes up for a vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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