Genachowski To Snowe: Spectrum Inventory Has Been Done Already

WASHINGTON March 21, 2011 – In a letter to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski says the spectrum inventory proposed in legislation introduced by Snowe and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) has already been completed.

Early this month Snowe cosponsored bill with John Kerry (D-MA) that would have the FCC work with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct a spectrum inventory.

The letter reads in part, “I agree on the need to take a comprehensive approach to spectrum reform, and I share your view that we must use all of the tools at our disposal to avert the looming spectrum crisis and promote a vibrant mobile economy. This is why the Commission has undertaken – and has now completed – a baseline spectrum inventory. It is also why we have launched several significant proceedings to achieve greater spectrum efficiency and productivity and proposed that Congress grant the Commission authority to conduct incentive auctions, a market-based approach to national spectrum policy.”

Genachowski then went on to highlight the Super Wi-Fi project, which the commission approved in September and would expand the current range of Wi-Fi networks from feet to miles.

In response to the public spectrum disclosure which Snowe’s bill proposes, Genachowski says that the commission is working to update the spectrum dashboard. “The Commission will release an upgraded version of the Spectrum Dashboard later this month – 2.0 – which will provide more granular information about spectrum holdings, including the ability to determine the extent of licensing within counties and on tribal lands and offer additional insights on the secondary market in spectrum licenses through the addition of leasing information.”

The full letter can be found here.