MADISONVILLE, LA – President Joe Biden signed Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-LA) 5G Spectrum Station License Enforcement (SALE) Act. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release previously auctioned spectrum to expand 5G broadband access to rural communities.
“Louisiana’s job providers rely on wireless communications to support our rural economy. My 5G SALE Act would require the FCC to use previously auctioned spectrum to companies providing 5G coverage. With my bill signed into law, more Americans will have the tools they need to work and grow their businesses. I’m grateful to be able to do this.” said Kennedy.
of Senate passed The bill enacted by President Kennedy in September of this year, House of Representatives passed The bill was enacted by President Kennedy in early December of this year.
The 5G Sales Act temporarily grants the FCC auction authority needed to complete spectrum transfers, allowing broadband services to provide greater 5G network coverage to rural Americans. .
background:
In 2022, the FCC auctioned off about 8,000 licenses to give companies access to America’s broadband spectrum. These licenses are the only way companies can legally use the airwaves to provide their customers with 5G. Therefore, these wavelengths are very valuable.
Congress failed to reauthorize the FCC’s authority to auction off licenses in bulk between the time companies paid for the licenses and the time the FCC was supposed to distribute them. The FCC left companies that purchased spectrum in that auction waiting to receive their transfers. Even though the payments were made, the FCC said it no longer had the authority to grant these licenses.
President Kennedy’s bill gave the FCC one-time temporary authority to issue licenses purchased at auctions held until March 9, 2023, when the FCC’s congressional authorization ends.
Prior to the bill’s passage, Kennedy asked a question FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee at a hearing on the commission’s expiring authority to transfer spectrum licenses that have already been sold at auction.
Full text of the 5G SALE Act is available here.
