Doris Matsui: “I am pleased that today we are reauthorizing the Federal Communications Commission through the RAY BAUM'S Act, which…”

“I am pleased that today we are reauthorizing the Federal Communications Commission through the RAY BAUM'S Act, which, among other things, ensures our local broadcasters have the resources they need and will deliver additional spectrum into the commercial marketplace. Spectrum is the invisible infrastructure that supports our wireless economy. As the way we do business continues to depend on connectivity and mobility, spectrum will be a part of everything from remote health monitoring to precision agriculture, to public safety communications and connected devices. That is why I am pleased that this package includes several of my priorities, including my Spectrum Auction Deposits Act, which I coauthored with Congressman Guthrie. This legislation will enable the FCC to continue to conduct auctions that will unlock the spectrum necessary to deploy next generation broadband networks. Without this fix, auctions to deliver more spectrum into the commercial marketplace may be put on hold indefinitely. This package also includes my legislation to create a Federal spectrum challenge prize, which would accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies to make spectrum use more efficient. It could also facilitate the application of existing technologies, such as blockchain, to develop spectrum sharing mechanisms that will allow providers to access spectrum on a real-time basis.…”