House AIRWAVES Act is Key for Freeing Up Spectrum, Says CTA

The following statement is attributed to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), regarding the recent introduction of the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum (AIRWAVES) Act by House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Vice Chair Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA):

    "The AIRWAVES Act - and its Senate companion bill introduced by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) - are important in creating a national pipeline of spectrum for commercial use. The AIRWAVES Act is a prime example of government and industry working together on an issue critical to our national leadership. Not only will more spectrum availability and emerging 5G technology transform our economy, they will prompt significant improvements for industrial, automotive, telecommunications and health care industries. We thank Reps. Lance and Doyle, the many House co-sponsors of the AIRWAVES Act, and Sens. Gardner and Hassan for advancing these important bills. We look forward to working with the House and Senate authors to ensure that the AIRWAVES Act fully encourages innovation amongst our diverse tech ecosystem."

   These bipartisan bills will require the Federal Communications Commission to hold multi-band spectrum auctions during each of the next three years; direct auction revenue to wireless infrastructure in those rural areas most in need of connectivity; and examine how greater spectrum can improve rural healthcare, education and agriculture.