summary
Introduced
03/26/2015
03/26/2015
In Committee
08/13/2015
08/13/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Federal Spectrum Incentive Act of 2015 Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to allow federal entities that utilize government station licenses to participate in the incentive auction program under which licensees of electromagnetic spectrum voluntarily relinquish their spectrum rights in order for such spectrum to be auctioned for a repurposed commercial use in exchange for a percentage of the auction proceeds. Permits such federal entities, instead of being reimbursed for the costs of sharing frequencies with nonfederal users or relocating to other frequencies as provided for under current law, to receive a percentage of the proceeds from spectrum it relinquishes for auction by electing to: (1) discontinue operations on eligible frequencies without relocating to other frequencies, or (2) relocate operations to frequencies assigned to another federal entity in order for such entities to share frequencies. Establishes in the Treasury a Federal Spectrum Incentive Fund to be administered by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Requires 1% of the proceeds from such auctions to be deposited in such Fund and the remainder to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury for the sole purpose of deficit reduction. Directs OMB to transfer from the Fund to a federal entity a specified amount attributable to the auction of frequencies vacated by such entity. Permits federal entities to use such amounts for: (1) any purposes permitted under the terms and conditions of an appropriations account that was subject to sequestration for any fiscal year under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, provided that the amount used does not exceed the amount by which the account was reduced by sequestration for such fiscal year; or (2) a transfer of amounts to an incumbent federal entity for such purposes when the federal entity relinquishing spectrum relocates its operations to frequencies assigned to another federal entity in order to share frequencies.
AI Summary
This bill, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act of 2015, allows federal government entities that use radio frequencies, known as "spectrum," to voluntarily give up their rights to certain frequencies in exchange for a share of the money generated when those frequencies are auctioned off for commercial use. Instead of being reimbursed for the costs of sharing frequencies with non-federal users or moving to different frequencies, these federal entities can choose to either stop using the frequencies altogether without relocating, or move their operations to frequencies used by another federal entity, allowing them to share. A new "Federal Spectrum Incentive Fund" will be established within the Treasury, managed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). One percent of the auction proceeds will go into this fund, with the rest going to the general Treasury for deficit reduction. The OMB will then transfer funds from this incentive fund to the federal entities that vacated the spectrum, which they can use to offset budget cuts caused by sequestration (automatic spending reductions) or to help another federal entity they are sharing frequencies with.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . (on 12/02/2015)
Official Document
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