Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
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Republican, Democrat on commerce panel join forces on white spaces
4 April 2006
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined efforts by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) to increase broadband access. The two members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee filed legislation that would free up wasted portions of the television-broadcast spectrum, known as white spaces, for emergency responders and wireless-broadband users. Their measure is a House companion to legislation offered by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and panel member U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.).
The Inslee-Blackburn bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete an ongoing proceeding on unused spectrum and make white spaces available for public-safety communications and unlicensed-broadband devices, including laptops and other portable devices.
“For too long, we’ve let this high-potential spectrum go to waste,” said Inslee, whose white-spaces amendment was included as part of digital-television legislation in October. “We now have the technology to put it to good use and leave current users unaffected.”
“We need to make every effort to encourage expanded communications coverage and that's what this bill does," said Blackburn. "The benefits we'll reap from opening up access to unused spectrum bridges both safety and commerce. This is one more way we can spread communications coverage across America."
The Inslee-Blackburn legislation also contains protections for incumbent users, such as broadcasters, performers and reporters who use wireless microphones, and pubic-safety personnel.
The prime spectrum, channels two through 51, has the capability to transmit data over longer distances with less power. It currently is reserved primarily for television broadcasting; a significant amount is underutilized in American media markets.
If reassigned, emergency responders could use the vacant spectrum to improve communication systems among and between jurisdictions that proved inadequate during responses to Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina. Unlicensed wireless broadband networks also could be accommodated – lowering costs and increasing the range of services available to consumers, especially in rural and other underserved areas.