Senate Hotline Process Underway for FCC Reauthorization Act
The hotline process for unanimous consent approval of the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) on the Senate floor started Wednesday, a Commerce Committee GOP aide told us. That was an expected Commerce goal for September (see 1608230062). Chairman John Thune, R-S.D.,…
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repeatedly told us starting in summer that he expects Democratic holds preventing such hotline approval due to Democratic frustration over the lack of reconfirmation of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (see 1609070059). Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is blocking the hotline of the committee’s Mobile Now (S-2555), and his office didn’t comment Thursday about whether it would block the FCC Reauthorization Act. A single senator's objection would block approval. Committee staff filed a 31-page report about the bill Tuesday describing its provisions, including the Spoofing Prevention Act and Kari’s Law Act. The report cites inclusion of a spectrum proposal from Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo.: “This section would require the Comptroller General, within two years after enactment and biennially thereafter, to submit a spectrum opportunity cost study and report on the opportunity cost for each specific Federal spectrum band between 150 megahertz and 6000 megahertz assigned to, or allocated for use by Federal entities. For purposes of these reports, 'opportunity cost' would be defined as the dollar value of spectrum if it were to be reallocated, on a licensed or unlicensed basis, to the highest commercial alternative that does not have access to that spectrum.” Ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., raised concerns during the markup, and the amendment was seen as a possible outstanding issue that could affect a hotline filing (see 1605050046). Senate Commerce “recognizes that the Federal Government utilizes spectrum in a myriad of ways to protect the American people and serve the public interest, and that the value of existing and contingent Federal use of spectrum is not and should not be determined solely by the opportunity cost,” the report said.