Gardner, Hassan Refile Airwaves Act; No House Version Until After Labor Day, Doyle Says

the measure won't happen until at least after Labor Day. The Airwaves Act, first filed during the last Congress, aims to identify spectrum for unlicensed use and free up mid-band spectrum for wireless industry purchase via an FCC auction (see 1802070054). Four other senators are co-sponsors -- Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. T-Mobile and several communications sector groups backed S-2223 -- the Competitive Carriers Association, CTA and NCTA. CTIA Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kelly Cole stopped short of endorsing S-2223 but said Gardner and Hassan “are rightly focused on getting more spectrum into the commercial marketplace as possible, which is critical for 5G.” House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., told reporters his office is “still negotiating” with other lawmakers on a revised House version of the Airwaves Act, which he said is being developed entirely independently of S-2223. “Those discussions are ongoing,” but the filing of a bill is “going to have to wait until the fall” since the House is expected to begin its five-week August recess after this week, Doyle said. He has been eyeing potential lead Republican co-sponsors for the measure, including Reps. Susan Brooks of Indiana and Tim Walberg of Michigan (see 1905080050).