On March 27, Data Center Summit for $195; Webinar option for $95

Sign in Subscribe
Spectrum

Sen. Blackburn Wants to Free Up Federal Spectrum for Commercial Use

The senator said unused spectrum could generate up to $100 billion for the federal government

Jericho Casper

Jericho Casper

— 2 min read
Sen. Blackburn Wants to Free Up Federal Spectrum for Commercial Use
Photo of Sen. Marsha Blackburn at State of the Net

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2025 – Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Tuesday federal agencies were “squatting on unused spectrum” that could be fueling broadband expansions.

"About 60% of spectrum bands are under U.S. government control," Blackburn said during a keynote at the State of the Net 2025 conference. "That's why I've called for an audit of federal spectrum usage so we can free up spectrum and get it to commercial use."

She emphasized the need to restore the Federal Communications Commission’s spectrum auction authority, which lapsed in March 2023 for the first time in 30 years.

Post tagged in
Spectrum marsha blackburn State of the Net FCC Senate Commerce Committee Senate Judiciary Salt Typhoon china Donald Trump J.D. Vance ROUTERS Act Bob Latta Commerce Department Congress KOSA Richard Blumenthal

Read more

Popular Tags

Broadband Experts Reflect on Digital Divide Progress Five Years After Pandemic FCC ACP More than Paid for Itself: Study Broadband's Impact White House Seen as Introducing Uncertainty, Cutting Regulations NTIA Broadband Experts Reflect on Digital Divide Progress Five Years After Pandemic BEAD 2030 Wireless vs. 2030 Fiber: The Future in Broadband Speed and Throughput Infrastructure Rep. Louis Riggs: BEAD's Groundhog Day Moment Broadband Mapping and Data