C&T Subcommittee Hearing: Strengthening American Leadership in Wireless Technology

House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

2025-01-23

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The first hearing of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the 119th Congress focused on American leadership in wireless technology and spectrum policy. The discussion highlighted the critical need to reauthorize the FCC's spectrum auction authority, address global competition—particularly from China—and ensure that spectrum management benefits both national security and economic growth. Speakers underscored the importance of bipartisan cooperation to advance thoughtful policies that foster innovation and close the digital divide[ 00:13:32 ]

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Themes

Need for Reauthorization of FCC Spectrum Auction Authority and Comprehensive Spectrum Policy

The lapse of the FCC's spectrum auction authority for the first time in history has jeopardized the U.S.'s economic and national security. Speakers emphasized the immediate need to reauthorize this authority, which has historically generated billions for the national economy. A balanced approach is required to make both licensed and unlicensed spectrum available, as demand for these finite resources continues to grow. Legislative efforts like the "Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act" and the "Spectrum Pipeline Act" aim to restore auction authority and promote a healthy spectrum pipeline[ 01:01:39-01:01:59 ]

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US Leadership and Global Competition, especially with China

The United States, as a global economic powerhouse and innovation leader, faces significant threats from adversaries like China. China's state-sponsored market manipulation and rapid 5G development are outpacing the U.S., with projections showing China having four times more mid-band access by 2027. Maintaining U.S. leadership requires a unified spectrum policy and a strong presence in international standard-setting bodies. Domestic disputes and disorganization in policy can undermine the U.S.'s global standing and allow China to gain influence.

National Security and Federal Agency Cooperation

Effective spectrum management is crucial for national defense, as evidenced by its use in military operations and national security applications. There are concerns about federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense, efficiently utilizing their spectrum resources and their willingness to share with commercial entities. Cooperation between agencies like NTIA and FCC is vital to prevent governmental infighting and ensure a cohesive spectrum strategy. Dynamic spectrum management and shared spectrum models are proposed as solutions to allow government and commercial users to coexist without compromising critical missions[ 01:12:56-01:13:03 ]

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. The removal of Chinese equipment from U.S. communication networks is also a national security priority.

Economic Impact and Digital Divide

Spectrum supports a wide range of essential services, drives economic growth, and creates jobs across various sectors[ 00:13:57 ]

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. There was strong advocacy for using spectrum auction proceeds for public good, such as closing the digital divide, supporting public safety communications (like Next Generation 911), and protecting national security, rather than funding tax cuts for the wealthy[ 00:56:18 ]

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. Access to affordable broadband is critical for education, telehealth, and small businesses, especially in rural and tribal communities[ 01:17:23-01:17:58 ]

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. The expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has underscored the importance of Wi-Fi and other solutions for connecting low-income households.

Technological Innovation (AI, Wi-Fi, Open RAN)

The U.S. is a leader in innovative technologies, including next-generation wireless, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and precision agriculture. Wi-Fi is recognized as the backbone of America's internet experience, carrying the majority of data traffic and driving significant innovation through open, unlicensed access. Emerging technologies like AI require substantial bandwidth and reliable networks, necessitating more spectrum. Open RAN technology is highlighted for its potential to promote a diverse ecosystem of trusted vendors for communication network equipment, enhancing security and competition. Advanced tools such as dynamic spectrum management and AI are seen as crucial for improving spectrum efficiency and allowing multiple users to coexist.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a serious and urgent tone, with a strong emphasis on the critical nature of spectrum policy for the nation's future. Despite some political disagreements, particularly concerning the allocation of auction proceeds, there was a clear bipartisan consensus on the importance of restoring FCC auction authority and fostering U.S. leadership in wireless technology[ 00:13:01 ]

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. Speakers frequently stressed the need for cooperation among federal agencies, industry, and Congress to address the complex challenges posed by finite spectrum resources and intensifying global competition.

Participants

Transcript

All right, if everyone will please take their seats.
Good morning and welcome to the first hearing in the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the 119th Congress.  I am honored to serve as the chairman of this subcommittee.   where there's a rich history of identifying and addressing the most pressing issues raised in the communications and technology sectors.  As technology continues to advance, this subcommittee will be at the forefront of solving tough issues.  The subcommittee has historically worked in a bipartisan manner to solve many of the issues before us, and I plan to continue that tradition by working with my ranking member, Representative Matsui, who I respect very much and have admired her work.   and accomplishments as a leader in this space, and look forward to working together and learning from Ms.
Matsui.
I'm grateful for the work Chairman Latta brought to this subcommittee, and I'm looking forward to continuing it and learning from him as well.  I'm also excited to work with my Vice Chairman, Mr. Rick Allen, and all of my colleagues on this subcommittee on both sides of the aisle to advance important legislation in this Congress.  Our nation is the world's economic powerhouse, and we lead the world in innovation.   America is home to the best technology companies, both large and small.  These companies lead in everything from next-generation wireless technology to all the emerging technologies that rely on connectivity, ranging from artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to next-gen 911 and precision agriculture.  Our country's startup ecosystem is strong and should be fostered.   This committee must advance thoughtful policy that continues to grow American innovation and productivity rather than stifle it.
Next generation wireless technology supports many of these technological advancements.  It impacts nearly every sector of our economy, from powering everyday communications networks and advancements in healthcare and manufacturing,
to being used for our national defense, something heavily present in my district at Fort Bragg.  We call it the epicenter of the universe.  It's the home of our special forces and the largest army base in the world.  But if our wireless networks are gonna keep pace with the speed of innovation, we need to make sure they have additional spectrum resources.  Spectrum is a crucial element for wireless technology to operate.  Americans depend on connected devices in their everyday lives, and the congestion on our networks has skyrocketed.   Our wireless networks need to keep up.  As our wireless networks advance from 5G to 6G technology and beyond, the demand for spectrum will only continue to grow.  We must remember these important resources are finite.  Managing these limited resources is vital to maintaining our economic dominance and protecting our national security.  We will take a balanced approach to making both licensed and unlicensed spectrum available.   This includes working with our federal partners such as the Department of Defense, which must have enough spectrum to defend the homeland, but also be held accountable to use their resources efficiently.  Last Congress, the Federal Communications Commission Spectrum Auction Authority expired for the first time due to disagreements about how spectrum resources should be allocated   These auctions have historically brought in billions to our national economy, with the highest spectrum auctions raising over $80 billion from private companies.
It is simple economics.
There's limited supply, unlimited demand, and a willingness to pay.  We need to reauthorize the FCC spectrum auction authority immediately.   We must also continue looking for ways to make unlicensed spectrum available.  Unlicensed spectrum unlocks the Internet of Things and smart device economy on which Americans rely, providing tremendous economic growth.  Under the first Trump administration, more than 1,200 megahertz of unlicensed spectrum was made available in the six gigahertz band, leading to massive opportunities for innovation for our farmers, industrialists, and communities.  These successes are just a start.   However, as we progress, our adversaries are constantly trying to undermine our leadership and international standard setting bodies through IP theft and through cyber attacks.  The US must remain resolute in defending our leadership to safeguard democratic values.  And this happens by trusting in our private sector partners   to address some of our nation's most pressing challenges.  We recently learned about Salt Typhoon, which may be the largest Chinese-backed telecommunications hack in our nation's history.  As we deploy advanced networks and connected devices in an environment of great power competition, we have to thoughtfully secure our networks every step of the way.   At the end of last year, I was glad to see Congress fund the removal of the remaining Chinese equipment in our communications networks.  China is producing cheap communications equipment at the cost of our national security, and that needs to change.
We need trusted alternatives.
Companies are working to develop and deploy Open RAN technology, which is intended to promote an ecosystem of trusted vendors for communication network equipment, and I look forward to hearing an update on its progress today.   The key to our success is working together with our stakeholders to deploy and secure our networks.  As our adversaries seek to undermine U.S.

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