By Fawn Johnson
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Several lawmakers are calling on the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Commerce Department to catalogue how wireless airwaves are being used by their licensees.
Four senators on Thursday introduced a bill requiring the FCC and Commerce to provide a thorough inventory of the radio and TV spectrum managed by each agency.
The bill is considered the first step in a comprehensive review of the nation's airwaves. Regulators could then figure out how to make more efficient use of the valuable channels, possibly freeing up more spectrum for private industry or government.
Sponsors hope the bill will move in Congress because consumer advocates and telecom companies alike are clamoring for access to airwaves to launch new wireless services and promote competition.
Spectrum licenses also can put money in government coffers. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and AT&T inc. (T) together paid some $20 billion for access to TV airwaves that will be freed up when all stations transition to digital broadcasting this June.
The bill was introduced by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.
-By Fawn Johnson, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9263; fawn.johnson@dowjones.com
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Publié le 19 mars 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones