WASHINGTON-President Bush last week signed an executive order directing federal agencies to implement recommendations in two spectrum reports, while a more pressing White House initiative to earmark military frequencies for third-generation wireless systems remains in limbo on Capitol Hill as lawmakers return this week one last time to address pending legislation.
Bush’s directive puts into play spectrum policy proposals outlined in June by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a unit of the Commerce Department. The reports, among other things, call for the creation of an innovation test bed for increased sharing among federal agencies, local governments and the private sector.
Congress and the Federal Communications Commission also are pursuing changes to spectrum management, given growing demands for the already-crowded airwaves, technological innovation, market changes and the increasingly global nature of wireless communications.
“President Bush took the next crucial step in developing a sound spectrum policy not only for today’s information age, but for years to come,” said CTIA President Steven Largent. “As I stated in June, these recommendations provide the necessary roadmap for how the wireless industry, along with the appropriate government bodies and industry segments, can work together to develop an efficient long-term spectrum plan. Tuesday’s action aids the ultra-competitive wireless industry in its continual efforts to offer the latest, most innovative products and services to consumers.”
Michael Gallagher, chief of NTIA, said Bush’s directive “has institutionalized innovation excellence.”
Meantime, White House-supported legislation critical to 3G rollouts in the United States has become a political football in Congress.
The House and Senate are back in a lame-duck session for a few final days this week. It will be the last chance for Congress to move measures designed to foster 3G services, enhanced wireless 911 and universal service.
One measure would create a fund-from future 3G auction receipts-to pay to relocate certain military radio systems from 1700 MHz to other frequencies. The legislation is based on a Bush administration-brokered deal that effectively compensates the Department of Defense for clearing 45 megahertz of spectrum that mobile-phone carriers will occupy to provide 3G services.
The relocation bill enjoys bipartisan and administration backing, but has been ensnarled in controversy over unrelated boxing commission legislation that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has sought to attach to a legislative package comprised of relocation, E911 and universal-service measures. The House is unlikely to approve any package that includes McCain’s boxing commission measure.
Further complicating prospects for passage of relocation, E911 and universal service legislation is a provision pushed by appropriations leaders-Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.)-that would preserve congressional jurisdiction over the relocation fund.
A Byrd spokesman said the White House objects to the Stevens-Byrd language. The White House did not return a call for comment. Clyde Ensslin, an NTIA spokesman, said the Bush administration supports the House-passed version of the telecom package containing the relocation fund.
Industry lobbyists said they remain hopeful the telecom package will be approved this week, but concede it will be difficult because of the narrow window for striking a deal. RCR
