Cruz Insists Senate Spectrum Reconciliation Deal Is Still in Place, Despite Rounds' Claims
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, insisted in a brief interview Thursday that a deal he reached Wednesday with top Armed Services Committee Republicans for spectrum language in the chamber’s budget reconciliation package (see 2506040078) remains in place, despite panel member Mike Rounds, R-S.D., indicating new wrinkles emerged. Senate Commerce planned to release its reconciliation language Thursday but hadn’t by our deadline. Meanwhile, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, National Emergency Number Association and other groups urged Senate Commerce to allocate some future auction proceeds in its reconciliation proposal for next-generation 911 tech upgrades.
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“We had an agreement in principle [Wednesday], but I understand that there's some concern [from Cruz] on the specifics [of the exclusions language], but we’re still working” to reach a final deal, Rounds told reporters Thursday. The deal he, Cruz and Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., reached ensured the spectrum title would exclude the 3.1-3.45 GHz and parts of the 7 and 8 GHz bands from possible sale through the entirety of a proposed restoration of the FCC’s lapsed auction authority, which would run through Sept. 30, 2034. Wicker said Thursday he needed to check on where the deal stood.
Rounds said he “thought we had it done, but apparently they have a concern about [carve-outs for DOD-controlled bands], where we basically say you can't just tell somebody to go get their bands from the military and not protect the military bands without consulting” officials. Rounds, Communications Subcommittee Chair Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., championed exclusions on the 7 and 8 GHz bands (see 2505220064).
Cruz countered that “we have an agreement, and the language will be released later today.” Senate Commerce’s proposal will include an 800 MHz pipeline, along with the FCC auction mandate renewal, putting it above the 600 MHz included in the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation package (HR-1), lobbyists told us. Senate Commerce’s proposal won't include an exclusion for the 5.9-7.1 (6) GHz band, which the House advanced in HR-1, lobbyists said. Cruz’s deal with Senate Armed Services Republicans represents a compromise from his earlier push for the spectrum language not to include carve-outs (see 2505130059).
In an open letter to Senate Commerce, NENA CEO Brian Fontes, APCO CEO Mel Maier and two other groups’ leaders said that “as the Senate begins debating the reconciliation bill, we urge the Committee to ensure the safety and security of our communities by providing the essential funds for the nationwide deployment of” NG-911. They noted that HR-1 didn’t include NG-911 money, despite the groups pressing House Commerce Committee leaders on the matter (see 2505140062). That panel in 2023 advanced the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act, allocating up to $14.8 billion in future auction proceeds for NG-911 (see 2305240069).
“We acknowledge the needs of the day, particularly regarding the federal deficit and tax cuts, but Congress cannot ignore the importance of investing in a nationwide upgrade to 911," the letter said. "These technologies are critical to keep our communities safe and our nation secure. Therefore, Congress must fully fund nationwide deployment of NG911 technology through spectrum auction revenues or other means.”