WASHINGTON (Reuters) - a Senate Committee supported giving U.S. communications regulators power to auction some waves currently used by television and move their mobile broadband use.
The authority of the auction is seen as key to a plan of the Federal Communications Commission to free up additional waves to meet the demand for wireless services booming.
Incentive auctions, some product would be where broadcasters go give up spectrum, font part of a Bill to build a network of public safety throughout the country which was approved in a vote of 21-4 by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.
Some 25 million already Americans watch video on smartphones and tablet computers such as Apple Inc. iPad, 120 times more request put the spectrum than the older phones.
The FCC hopes to reallocate 120 megahertz of spectrum by voluntary auction of television.
Broadcasters have been wary of the FCC plan, concerned about unintended consequences, might have on their TV signals and the 46 million viewers who still rely on live TV.
"As the process progresses, NAB will work with policymakers to ensure that broadcasters are able to follow the promise of free and local digital television has made tens of millions of television viewers," the National Association of broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith said in a statement.
The Bill supported by the Committee on Wednesday would offset not only those who give their spectrum, but would also cover the costs of broadcasters who hold their on-air but are "repackaged" to clear large contiguous blocks of spectrum considered best for mobile broadband use.
"This legislation takes the first essential steps to address critical shortage the nation of spectrum licensed and sets the course for future dynamic wireless, said RHOD Shaw, Executive Director of the Coalition of High Tech spectrum, which includes the Apple, Nokia, Cisco, and Qualcomm.".
PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK
The Bill would use proceeds from the auction has not cancelled for broadcasters to assist in the financing, construction and maintenance of a network of public safety broadband wireless broadband. All money, after flying over would reduce the US budget deficit.
Chairman of the Committee of the Senate trade John Rockefeller, said the Act was a necessary step in the fulfilment of a key 9/11 recommendation for a wireless network that allows firefighters, police and other first responders to communicate easily from the Commission.
He urged legislators to act quickly so that legislation can be signed into law in advance the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by diverted airliners.
The Bill allocates the so-called D block, a swath 10-megahertz of spectrum coveted by the companies wireless and security groups, a network of public safety by a non-profit corporation with a Board legislative, regulatory, public safety and industry representatives.
The FCC would create standards allowing officials from public safety to lease capacity on a secondary wireless companies base when the waves are not in use. These funds would help maintain the network.
Rockefeller, stated that he would have conversations immediately on the planning of a vote by the full Senate. "I urge my colleagues in the House to also go ahead with this Bill."
Bill will probably see more severe scrutiny on the floor of the Senate and could the Sub resistance control Republican House of representatives where the leaders have said it would be preferable for sale at auction the d block wireless companies to build a network of public safety.
A previous effort to auction block d for commercial use shared with public safety groups failed.
(Reported by Melvin Jasmin.) (Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
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