Members of California’s technology industry sent a letter Tuesday to the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, urging legislation that will address the limited amounts of spectrum available for mobile broadband usage, a proponent of the legislation said today.
A solution to address the issue was uncertain after the super committee failed to reach consensus on a number of issues related to the economy earlier this week.
The letter, addressed to the super committee’s co-chairs and individual members, asks that the federal government authorize broadcasters to auction spectrum to technology businesses in voluntary incentive auctions, Cal Innovates executive director Mike Montgomery said. The federal government would split proceeds with broadcasting companies, resulting in more than $20 billion in earnings for the US Treasury.
"If there is extra [spectrum], then we need to allocate it to this rapidly and massively expanding industry," Montgomery said.
In addition to the financial benefits of the proposed legislation, Montgomery said consumers and innovators need such legislation before spectrum runs out. The federal government initially allocated spectrum to television broadcasters, before the advent of smart phones.
However, new technology such as smart phones and tablets use much more spectrum than televisions or regular mobile phones, with smart phones taking 24 times the amount of regular cell phones, and tablets taking 122 times the amount needed for smartphones, according to Montgomery. Legislation that allows broadcasters to financially benefit from their spectrum holdings would, in turn, benefit technology users and innovators, Montgomery said.
"There simply isn’t enough&hellip unless we figure out a way to reallocate what there is and use it more wisely," said Montgomery, who said current projections predict spectrum will run out in less than three years.
While the super committee’s efforts appear failed following a Monday announcement that the committee will not reach an agreement on deficit reduction actions before their deadline, Montgomery said the legislation can stand on its own and is still needed.
