Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn heartily endorsed legislation giving the FCC authority to conduct incentive auctions in the television spectrum space for the purpose of creating more room for wireless broadband. She hopes to create a competitive wireless market and also looks forward to the nationwide public safety network also in the works. Her remarks did not mention the impact of the plan on television broadcasting.
Here are Clyburn’s full remarks:
“I am very pleased that President Obama signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job CreationAct of 2012. Title VI of that Act provides the Commission with statutory authority to implement communications policies that will help our Nation maintain its leadership in technological innovation.
“In 2010, the National Broadband Plan explained howAmerica’s increasing demand for smart phones and mobile broadband services has made it critical for the nation to find more ways to reallocate spectrum for commercial mobile services. Our reliance on mobile wireless services has grown so much that the most recent federal survey shows that approximately 30 percent of Americans rely solely upon mobile services for their telephony needs. We should expect to see that demand increase even more dramatically, in light of the enactment of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which gives people living with disabilities greater access to the most advanced voice and data services on the market.
“The more that Americans rely on mobile wireless service, the more we should do to promote competition in that industry. This Act provides the Commission with important spectrum management tools it needs to ensure that the structure of the mobile services industry serves the needs of American consumers.
“This Act also includes provisions to spur the development of more advanced public safety communications services. It provides important guidance about the framework that should be used to develop the first ever nationwide, interoperable, public safety broadband network. It also promotes the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 networks that will give Americans more communications options in times of emergency.
“I congratulate both Houses for collaborating in a bipartisan fashion to pass these historic statutory provisions. This is another example of how consensus within the communications industry can play such a vital role in speeding much needed services to all Americans.”
