TPA Submits Comments on Spectrum & Updating the Communications Act

TPA submitted the following comment this morning to the House Energy & Commerce Committe:

Response to Request for Comments by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the Update to the Communications Act

April 24, 2014

Introduction: The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is very interested and concerned as to how Congress will be looking to make changes regarding communications policy and how those changes will impact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the issue of government-owned spectrum. There is no doubt that taxpayers, consumers, and businesses will be impacted by how the committee, Congress, and the FCC proceed. That being said, it is important to take into account where all stakeholders stand on these debates.   TPA is a 501 (c)(4) organization that represents the interests of millions of American taxpayers across the country and as such we feel compelled to submit comments that expressly states recommendations to two questions posed in the recent white paper issued by the committee regarding these issues.

Question#4: What other steps can be taken to increase the amount of commercially available spectrum?

TPA Response: TPA believes that the best way to achieve this is to make more spectrum available through auctions.  The last auction was held in February 2012 and the next is on hold for now. The auction process should proceed as soon as possible and it should be open for all to participate in without any preferential treatment to pick or choose winners in the bidding. Experts estimate that, over the next decade, spectrum auctions will net the U.S. Treasury at least $20 billion in revenue. We simply cannot ignore the positive impact that an open-auction process would have on the economy. The open-auction process is the best route to take if the FCC wants to encourage more commercially available spectrum and they should reject any calls for a restrictive auction process that hinders participation by any interested party.

Question #5: Should the Act permit the FCC to use expected auction revenue as the basis for a public interest finding? What criteria should the FCC consider as part of its analysis?

TPA Response: The criteria TPA looks at is whether or not spectrum sales are good for taxpayers and the economy.  The FCC holds the key and it is important to realize that spectrum is readily available and just waiting to be used in the marketplace by businesses looking to satisfy the needs of consumers. Once a private sector obtains new spectrum, it’s in their best interest to turn around and use it in a way that best meets customer’s demands.  From personal to commercial use, an expanding and thriving economy will rely more and more on the wireless industry and spectrum to deliver those services.  By holding onto unused spectrum, the FCC is denying taxpayers and the economy valuable resources.

Conclusion: Taking into account all of the positive aspects of freeing more government-owned spectrum and allowing an open-auction to take place, there is simply no reason why Congress and the FCC can’t move forward on the issues addressed in this comment. Allowing the private sector to take ownership of more spectrum is the best way to encourage innovation and benefit taxpayers and consumers. TPA is aware there will be more hearings on this issue in the coming months, but we urge swift action to make these potential positive impacts, as noted in this comment, a reality.

Thank you for this opportunity to weigh in on this important issue.

David Williams
President