Washington, D.C. – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following joint statement today after the White House unveiled its national spectrum strategy for coordinating spectrum use and positioning the United States to dominate in the development of 5G and future 6G technology: 

“Spectrum is one of our most important and valuable resources, impacting everything from our military’s radar capabilities to the mobile broadband and GPS systems Americans rely on every day. Making spectrum available for commercial use will help strengthen our economy, our national security, and ensure that we out-compete China. Today’s announcement is a welcome step toward enhancing the way we use and manage this critical resource and sets the stage for strengthening America’s technological leadership. It is particularly meaningful that this plan reaffirms the joint leadership of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in managing our nation’s spectrum. 

“Extending the FCC’s spectrum auction authority remains vital to providing certainty to the public and securing our global competitive edge—including against countries like China that do not share our fundamental values of democracy, free speech, and human rights. We will continue to work with our colleagues in the House and Senate to get our nation back on track to establish a strong, sustainable spectrum policy that benefits consumers and advances U.S. interests at home and around the world.”