Rounds Plans Showdown on Alternate FCC Spectrum Authority Extension Bill
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told us he plans a Senate floor showdown tonight to pass by unanimous consent his bill to lengthen a new extension of the FCC's spectrum auction authority to last through Sept. 30 (S-650). That's instead of accepting a House-passed plan to renew it until May 19 (HR-1108). Rounds' push may lead to the FCC's mandate expiring altogether Thursday, given he firmly opposes passing HR-1108 by UC and Hill leaders don't back his proposal, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. The Senate can pass legislation by UC only if no senator objects.
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"I don't want to see" the FCC's authority "lapse if at all possible," Rounds said. "We'll see what happens." He believes extending the mandate to Sept. 30 instead of May 19 would set up a situation where lawmakers won't have to grapple with what's likely to be another stopgap come HR-1108's proposed deadline. He also said it would allow DOD to complete an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-mandated DOD analysis on relocating its systems off the 3.1-3.45 GHz band.