Bipartisan bill aims to spur wireless capacity and close digital divide

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO ) introduced bipartisan legislation to support wireless innovation and close the urban-rural digital divide. The Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (AIRWAVES) Act does two important things. First, the bill encourages the federal government to make more spectrum available for commercial use, providing more capacity to carriers. Second, the bill requires 10 percent of spectrum auction proceeds to go to wireless broadband infrastructure buildout in unserved and underserved rural areas across the country.

“The bipartisan AIRWAVES Act will help ensure that there is an adequate supply of spectrum for licensed and unlicensed use, which in turn will enhance wireless services to our people, stimulate our economy, and spur innovation,” Senator Hassan said. “Our bill also makes meaningful investments in rural broadband infrastructure in places like New Hampshire, helping to strengthen local economies and provide our businesses and hard-working Americans in rural areas with the resources they need to get ahead and stay ahead.”

Links:

Hassan, Gardner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Wireless Innovation and Close the Urban-Rural Divide (US Senate, Aug. 1, 2017)