---
title: "ITIF Welcomes Proposed Spectrum Policy Reforms"
summary: |-
  It’s good to see Congress working to put in place policies that will see wireless-based growth continue to flourish, said Doug Brake.
date: "2015-11-10"
issues: ["Broadband Access and Regulation"]
content_type: "Press Releases"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2015/11/10/itif-welcomes-proposed-spectrum-policy-reforms/"
---

# ITIF Welcomes Proposed Spectrum Policy Reforms

WASHINGTON—Doug Brake, telecommunications policy analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, released the following statement commending U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) for introducing the Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act and welcoming the MOBILE NOW Act, a separate discussion draft circulating with the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee:

*The Spectrum Pipeline Act was an important step forward, extending the FCC’s auction authority and promoting additional allocations to mobile wireless. We are very happy to see members of Congress now considering even larger reforms. Wireless services are playing an increasingly important role in the information economy, and finding the spectrum to fuel them is a long and difficult process. It’s good to see Congress working to put in place policies that will see wireless-based growth continue to flourish.*

*Federal spectrum policy should provide a balance of different access models—including licensed, unlicensed, and effective sharing models—to support the next generation of technology development. We commend Senator Schatz for introducing the Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act, because the bill makes this balanced mix of access models formal U.S. policy. The bill proposes that the United States repurpose federal spectrum for licensed and unlicensed uses and recognizes the need for a robust mix of high-band, mid-band, and low-band, non-exclusive spectrum. This will help fuel wireless broadband and provide flexibility for the diverse needs of Internet of Things applications.*

*Additionally, the United States must fundamentally re-think the process by which we repurpose spectrum for what are now more socially beneficial uses—namely flexible-use wireless broadband. The discussion draft that is circulating with the Senate Commerce Committee members, known as the MOBILE NOW Act, puts a series of valuable spectrum policy reforms on the table to address this issue. The most intriguing proposal is a structure of explicit monetary incentives for federal agencies to give up rights to their spectrum. While this is an early draft, and many of the details remain to be worked through, the overall goal of finding a better way to encourage more spectrum to be repurposed is undoubtedly good policy.*

*The draft also addresses a host of other issues, including important changes to streamlining wireless infrastructure siting on federal property and speeding local action on wireless deployment. These types of reforms will encourage continued investment in the wireless infrastructure necessary for next-generation licensed services to flourish and allow carriers to keep pace with ever-growing data demands.*

*We urge policymakers to move deliberately on these important reforms.*

---
*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2015/11/10/itif-welcomes-proposed-spectrum-policy-reforms/*