Political Quotes

“I express my support for S. 649, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act. I am joining as a cosponsor of this legislation because it is important to complete a comprehensive assessment of how we use our radio spectrum before we make decisions about how we want to use it in the future. As the FCC submits the Nation's first broadband plan to Congress, we have heard much about the need for allocating additional spectrum for the expansion of mobile broadband service. There is little question that rapidly expanding these networks is of critical importance-- especially in rural States like North Dakota, which rely on 21st-century technology like mobile broadband to stay competitive. However, without a thorough understanding of how our public airwaves are currently being used, making a plan to reallocate spectrum would be putting the cart before the horse. For that reason, I strongly believe that the Congress should pass this legislation and policymakers should wait to review the results of the inventory it requires before decisions are made about how or where spectrum should be distributed for the expansion of mobile broadband services. This will allow us to shape spectrum policy in a more thoughtful manner.”