Schatz Co-Introduced MOBILE NOW Act Amendment Passed

United States Senator Brian Schatz. United State Senate photo.

An amendment to the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act, also known as the MOBILE NOW Act, was unanimously passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

United States Senators Brian Schatz and Jerry Moran of Kansas co-introduced the amendment.

The Schatz-Moran amendment would assist in boosting unlicensed spectrum, used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies.

“For the first time, we’ll have the opportunity to develop a national plan for unlicensed spectrum,” said Senator Schatz.  “While much of the conversation on spectrum has been on licensed, we must continue to embrace unlicensed spectrum as a key part of our wireless strategy.  It’s critical for consumers and our economy, and its potential is unlimited.”

The call for the creation of a National Unlicensed Spectrum Strategy is called for in the MOBILE ACT amendment, It also requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a process that will ensure that spectrum allocation and assignment actions in the future produce a balance between licensed and unlicensed bands.

“I am very pleased our amendment promoting unlicensed spectrum was included in MOBILE NOW,” Senator Moran said.  “Our proposal would make certain unlicensed spectrum – which is so important to both innovators and consumers – is firmly represented in the spectrum policy of the future.  Wi-Fi should go hand-in-hand with 5G, the next generation of cell phone technology.”