Policy advocates, industry stakeholders and government officials testify in front of Senate Commerce subcommittee about the future of commercial spectrum for broadband in telecommunications. This hearing is just over 2 and half hours. [inaudible conversations] the hearing on subcommittee and munication scum media and broadband will now come to order. Today the subcommittee is convening a hearing on the future of spectrum. I want to thank Ranking Member thune and roger wicker for working to get this scheduled and to be here for this important hearing and also to chair cantwell for what she has done in this space, her staff and the staff of the full committee. The importance of this conversation, and coming together spectrum policy could not be more immediate with an upcoming deadline that must be met. Spectrum is a limited Natural Resource and the challenges are many. We have spectrum challenges across the industry, government, technology, policy, and politics. When we dont find solutions, those challenges can become a National Crisis and i hope the last two words get the attention of those that have not yet or dont see the reauthorization in that way. Licensed and unlicensed spectrum underlay is the Broadband Network that enables us to communicate with friends, family, work from our homes, utilize telehealth but that are also used for National Security purposes. It depends greatly on how these resources are managed and how they can coordinate to make better use of them. Spectrum helps us respond to floods, wildfires and other natural disasters and to explore the origins of the universe. This hearing will consider the many challenges we face as we manage the potential and limited resource. There are many things to consider including commercial challenges in identifying privately licensed spectrum to ensure the supply meets the demand, bureaucratic challenges between federal agencies each with critical missions, negotiating how to best use the spectrum in technical and engineering challenges, solutions which might enable more spectrum and require closer coordination. We have policy challenges come many uses of spectrum do not have a clear market value nor should they. It is impossible to put a price on National Security, Public Safety or promoting innovation through unlicensed spectrum or scientific research. We have political challenges, spectrum is one of the few policy areas, with revenue. 230 billion for the federal government. We have important decisions not just on spectrum policy, but revenue might open doors and support other critical priorities in the United States. And the federal Communications Commission to spectrum options, to expire september 30th. It depends on the decisions we make in this committee and conversation we have. Congress must act to ensure it meets the Public Interest. I apologize here, spectrum revenues devoted to updating the 9 11 system and promote Digital Equity, and during the see band and more to ensure allocating spectrum, innovative auctions, structures, demonstrated spectrum policy, to meet rural areas. It allows tribes and pueblos for sovereignty on the airways over tribal lands. Last week the house cleared us, the bipartisan bill extending fcc spectrum option authority. The bill also restored in cia as the lead agency for spectrum decisions by including spectrum innovation act which i introduce with Ranking Member thune in the senate. I support the progress in the house, yesterday a day before this hearing, rosa marshall, signed an updated memorandum of understanding, agencies resolve spectrum challenges. This reaffirms the role as sole agency in charge of managing spectrum resources which increases many of the challenges for managing broadband, that have significant federal agency stakeholder. It includes better coordination with evidencebased policy, something we need more often congress. Ranking member thune and i structured toward the goal, theres a broad interest for colleagues across the senate and many who have been working on this issue during their time in the United States. This brings together experts in the field of Spectrum Management, many years of experiencing managing these resources directly and the broader debate on a national scale. With that, i want to introduce our witnesses, i want to thank mister wicker, Ranking Member of the full committee, the Ranking Member, the republican whip for mr. Thune. Yes we do expect senator thune to be here soon. It convened to discuss spectrum policy. Thank you for holding this important hearing is welcome the distinguished panel. This conversation is timely as the chair noted with the statutory options. Spectrum is in the modern wireless economy. Tell me how unleashing spectrum, with cutting edge technologies. It grows almost exponentially and growing demand from federal agencies, resources scarce and effective Spectrum Management has become essential. They are out locating frequencies, not only do options provide a market mechanism. With sufficient revenues as the distinguished chair stated, the advent of spectrum options, 230 billion has been collected and used including funding, and reducing the federal deficit. The Statutory Authority to conduct options is set to expire september 30th. If we do not act swiftly the Agency Removes its ability through that. This is especially important for the recent start at 2. 5 gigahertz. That is ongoing when the authority expires. To finish the proceeding. Not sure if spectrum options have been so successful, bitter certainty. And the timeframe of the agency. That reduces the certainty, with spectrum. The legal authority, to complete the option, we expect bidding to be effective. I want to ensure there is no lapse in authority. A shortterm extension of options would allow the Committee Working with stakeholders to identify specific fans. This approach of legislating particular frequencies that proved successful in recent years and give all parties to plan ahead. It would allow time to draft that carefully without any unnecessary obstruction of the fccs duty. As well as timelines and other considerations, would create that success and given the very short time for exploration of option authority. Beyond the extension of option authority we should look to the Management Agency for guidance as the nation continues in the race to 5g and beyond. The fcc and telecommute occasions Information Administration worked with their respective stakeholders and for commercial use while making the needs for federal agencies and although our federal agencies, important spectrum interest these decisions should be made, expert agencies passed by the statute. With Service Rules to weaken that. These concerns should be handled through existing processes using Technical Analysis and data. It is complex. Congress has a role. I would urge my colleagues to support shortterm extension of options authority. To continue its important work while we work with stakeholders to develop more comprehensive legislation laying out longterm pipeline of frequencies. I would hope to work on legislative efforts to improve the coordination between federal agencies and the fcc to ensure theres an open and effective communication. I yield back to you. Ranking member of the committee, thank you for your thoughtfulness and policy approaches in this arena. Thank you, chairman, for holding a timely hearing. 22 legislative calendar days, conduct spectrum option expires. The last time this Committee Held this hearing is in july of 2,020 with chairman of the subcommittee. Disappointed lack of progress on this issue, it is the lifeblood, wireless communications, next Generation Networks require efficient and effective use of mid, low and high band spectrum. In the global race we deploy these Services Proper management of the slitted resource that has never been more important. Particularly important for more rural parts of the country. If an inadequacy of spectrum resources makes it less viable, the rural areas where it no longer makes sense to employ teleCommunication Services. Last week the fcc took the step of bringing 5g services to more tribal areas by beginning the option of 21 2 ghz. It is my view in congress to provide a shortterm extension of the Fcc Auction Authority so we can assure the option continues without any delays. It is equally important for congress to build on the success of the mobile now act and beat china for 5g act by developing legislation. One such place to start is legislation we introduced earlier this year. Spectrum innovation act, the lower 3 ghz band, allow mobile services. By enacting a pipeline bill congress provides regulatory certainty and predict ability and when the spectrum is made available it is essential there are clear rules to recognize rights with respect to users. It is important to know spectrum pipeline bill takes time. It will require Government Agencies, industry and others for these resources, by doing so we make spectrum decisions in the interest of economic and National Security. Having led the efforts of the mobile now act i know the complexity of this issue and the time it takes to work with spectrum legislation. It involved general Auction Authority, last time there was the general Auction Authority was back in 2,012. At that Time Congress provided specific direction on bands that should be considered for auction but also took years to get thorough. Some spectrum bands were identified in the National Broadband plan two years earlier, some multiple congressional hearings in the years leading to its passage and some included studies reports by an tia and the fcc office of Engineering Technology in years before, we extended Auction Authority. It is my hope this Committee Work together in a bipartisan manner to develop a larger spectrum package. Sound Spectrum Management requires coordination between f tia, the fcc and other agencies. I was pleased to see the fcc and an tia reach an agreement on the coordination process. It is important this is done regularly i encourage the committee to advance the improving spectrum Coordination Act which is legislation i sponsored with Ranking Member wicker and senators lujan and blackburn. As more americans rely on connectivity like wifi, we must recognize the Critical Role unlicensed spectrum plays in the landscape. Unlicensed spectrum is responsible for transmitting significant data in the networks that play a role in the development of the internet of things. Finally as we work towards freeing additional licensed and unlicensed spectrum we must take action to remove barriers to largescale 5g deployment like streamline act for example expedite deployment of a small sills needed for 5g installation while respecting the role of state and local governments in making deployment decisions. Importantly, would make it more affordable to bring 5g to were areas by addressing the cost. I look forward to discussing these issues with the panel and appreciate all of you. Appreciate your work on this issue as well not just on this but previous years as well. Next i want to introduce our witnesses and we will hear from them. First we want to welcome mr. Christopher lewis, the ceo and president of Public Knowledge meaning one of the predominant organizations Intel Communications and former staffer at the fcc in the United States senate. The honorable meredith baker, ceo and president of cta, Wireless Association representing the users of public spectrum and former commission at the fcc and appointee at the end tia and next, andrew von ah, director of physical infrastructure, government comes billy office with years of experience evaluating Spectrum Management at the fcc and in tia, welcome and we will hear from the fourth with us today, doctor coleman bazelon, who is printable at the battle group with expert knowledge of wireless license options, Spectrum Management, competition policy, and formerly an analyst and cbo, the importance of all of us to get to know spectrum policy better so i appreciate your reminder and appreciate your testimony here as well. The floor is yours for 5 minutes. Thank you for having me here. In the brief time i have i would like to summarize four guideposts for National Policy strategy driving innovation and promoting quality access to communications for all. First guidepost is that we should center publicinterest objectives set by congress in national strategy, telecommunication backed congress directed the fcc to design spectrum options to protect Public Interest and filled the goals of its foundational purpose to make robust Communication Services available for all americans. This included eroding competition, economic opportunity, preventing excessive consolidations, providing opportunities for Small Businesses especially minority and women owned businesses ensuring limited Spectrum Airways to effectively serve the public medication needs. We need congress, the fcc and an tia to think about how to advance all of these things. For example rural and tribal areas can benefit from small creative policies. Last month the Ranking Member mentioned the fcc spectrum licensing rules to increase access for small carriers. Congress could further close the access gap in tribal areas where the need is greatest, directed to the fcc to mandate expanded use and the use of cbr, and systems for tribal lands. We have the midst of a connectivity revolution, average number of connected devices for home, has risen from 11 in 2019 to 25 in 2021. Smart tvs, doorbells, and unlicensed spectrum. This offloads their data uncongested airways and unlicensed spectrum innovation and synonymous with at home projects. The demand on unlicensed spectrum underscores how critical using a mix of access regimes is to meet National Connectivity demands. There are very few spectrum opportunities remaining. The stakeholder must work, the success of cbr s demonstrates as long as we follow the engineering facts and data where it leads, future spectrum plans can create more opportunity for competition to a balanced, shared license application. Number 3, we should commit to a longterm spectrum plan. Thanks to the bipartisan efforts of congress, the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration wireless providers have access to spectrum to deploy stateoftheart project systems. Is already looking to 60 and wifi seven, standard for these systems are still years away. Or 5g race with china now relies on carriers spending money to deploy networks, not on new spec now is time to step back and carefully planned for the future. Future. An 18 month extension of Auction Authority will not allow the fcc and ntia to do that careful planning. A longterm commitment by signaling that the sec will have future options will give agencies and private stakeholders the knowledgege to develop thoughtful planned for the future spectrum commercialization to congress could direct the ntia to issue a report that identifies potential bands and how they may be structured for commercial use seeking to find the rightth balance between balance and unlicensed. Number four, we must prioritize Public Interest needs when spinning public revenue for auctions. The reality is there are several National Priorities and Communications Policies ofna private investment other or wont p fund. Digital equity programs help knock down barriers to Broadband Adoption help community is make greater use other connectivity. Congress provide some funding for these efforts in the broadband infrastructure package. The bipartisan infrastructure package but a more sustainable source of funding isee needed. I would acknowledge support the air was for Equity Initiative which proposes setting aside efforts. Completing next g911 finishing theus work of rip and replace ad other support as Public Interest funding needs and it should be public funding industries. The bottom line is that the Public