summary
Introduced
10/27/2015
10/27/2015
In Committee
10/27/2015
10/27/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Spectrum Relocation Fund Act of 2015 This bill amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to make amounts available from the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to pay federal entities for research and development activities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their use of electromagnetic spectrum under government station licenses in order to make frequencies available for: (1) reallocation for nonfederal use, shared federal and nonfederal use, or a combination of such uses; and (2) auctions in accordance with such reallocation. As a condition to the OMB paying a federal entity for such activities, the federal entity must have a plan: (1) approved by a technical panel within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and (2) submitted by the OMB to the appropriate congressional committees for a period of 60 days. The bill also provides for incumbent federal entities to receive payment from the SRF for relocation and sharing costs incurred to accommodate sharing spectrum frequencies assigned to such entity with another federal entity the operations of which are being relocated from other frequencies.
AI Summary
This bill, the Spectrum Relocation Fund Act of 2015, amends existing law to allow the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) to be used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to pay federal entities for research and development (R&D) and planning activities aimed at improving how they use electromagnetic spectrum, which is the range of radio frequencies used for communication. The goal of these R&D efforts is to make more spectrum frequencies available for non-federal use, shared federal and non-federal use, or for auction. To receive these funds, a federal entity must have a plan for its R&D activities that is first approved by a technical panel within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and then submitted by the OMB to Congress for a 60-day review period. Additionally, the bill allows for incumbent federal entities, meaning those already using certain frequencies, to be reimbursed from the SRF for costs associated with relocating or sharing their spectrum frequencies to accommodate other federal entities that are moving from different frequencies.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (on 10/27/2015)
Official Document
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