{ "id": "R43256", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R43256", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 446521, "date": "2015-09-09", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:24:52.725083", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96, signed February 22, 2012) contains provisions in Title VI that expedite the availability of spectrum for commercial mobile broadband. The provisions in Title VI\u2014also known as the Public Safety and Spectrum Act, or the Spectrum Act\u2014cover reallocation of spectrum, new assignments of spectrum rights, and changes in procedures for repurposing spectrum used by the federal government. The act establishes a process for television broadcasters to release spectrum licensed to them for auction as commercial licenses (Broadcast Incentive Auctions). The act also includes provisions to apply future spectrum license auction revenues toward deficit reduction; to establish a planning and governance structure to deploy public safety broadband networks, using some auction proceeds for that purpose; and to assign additional spectrum resources for public safety communications.\nBroadband capacity to support popular mobile services and devices, such as real-time viewing of video on smartphones, can be improved in several ways. Examples include (1) providing new spectrum for networks to expand; (2) investing in denser infrastructure; (3) developing new technologies; or (4) expanding opportunities for sharing spectrum. Provisions of the Spectrum Act focus on increasing the amount of spectrum as the key policy tool for spectrum management. \nGoing forward, other policy tools may need to be considered in order to make spectrum access more inclusive. Many policy makers and Members of Congress are concerned, for example, that the current structure of auctions to assign spectrum licenses does not provide enough opportunities for competition or new entrants into mobile communications markets. The spectrum needs of the Internet of Things and other emerging technologies that some believe may be key drivers of future economic growth are not specifically addressed in the Spectrum Act. Many growth industries that are deemed to be part of the Internet of Things require reliable, affordable access to spectrum.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43256", "sha1": "f347d3e392300584d4d4cebd30bf8904049fe972", "filename": "files/20150909_R43256_f347d3e392300584d4d4cebd30bf8904049fe972.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43256", "sha1": "33a600643c0ab38a8220bc56ce9c9ed79b140057", "filename": "files/20150909_R43256_33a600643c0ab38a8220bc56ce9c9ed79b140057.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2111, "name": "Telecommunications and Media Convergence" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501507/", "id": "R43256_2015Feb05", "date": "2015-02-05", "retrieved": "2015-03-30T22:03:27", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "This report discusses the Spectrum Act, a provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It includes an overview of the Spectrum Act, the specific policy revisions (deficit reduction, directed auctions, incentive auctions, federal spectrum use and reallocation, and unlicensed spectrum) and a conclusion discussing geographic coverage of spectrum licenses, spectrum caps, and planning for future needs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150205_R43256_7723c66c5d2c281e9ba79ef89a742130c592f95d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150205_R43256_7723c66c5d2c281e9ba79ef89a742130c592f95d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public welfare", "name": "Public welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Tax returns", "name": "Tax returns" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Telecommunication", "name": "Telecommunication" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc463470/", "id": "R43256_2014Aug07", "date": "2014-08-07", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "This report discusses the Spectrum Act, a provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It includes an overview of the Spectrum Act, the specific policy revisions (deficit reduction, directed auctions, incentive auctions, federal spectrum use and reallocation, and unlicensed spectrum) and a conclusion discussing geographic coverage of spectrum licenses, spectrum caps, and planning for future needs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140807_R43256_d034372b16fe5cc768eff555269723ee1d952460.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140807_R43256_d034372b16fe5cc768eff555269723ee1d952460.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public welfare", "name": "Public welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Tax returns", "name": "Tax returns" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Telecommunication", "name": "Telecommunication" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc306554/", "id": "R43256_2014May22", "date": "2014-05-22", "retrieved": "2014-07-08T21:53:44", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "This report discusses the Spectrum Act, a provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It includes an overview of the Spectrum Act, the specific policy revisions (deficit reduction, directed auctions, incentive auctions, federal spectrum use and reallocation, and unlicensed spectrum) and a conclusion discussing geographic coverage of spectrum licenses, spectrum caps, and planning for future needs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140522_R43256_5262b9a679f1b29fe7858a0c20c36818fd183074.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140522_R43256_5262b9a679f1b29fe7858a0c20c36818fd183074.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Tax returns", "name": "Tax returns" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public welfare", "name": "Public welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Telecommunication", "name": "Telecommunication" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc463324/", "id": "R43256_2014Mar12", "date": "2014-03-12", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "This report discusses the Spectrum Act, a provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It includes an overview of the Spectrum Act, the specific policy revisions (deficit reduction, directed auctions, incentive auctions, federal spectrum use and reallocation, and unlicensed spectrum) and a conclusion discussing geographic coverage of spectrum licenses, spectrum caps, and planning for future needs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140312_R43256_8d9454a630075bd60eb9ec6ab37422b814e32783.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140312_R43256_8d9454a630075bd60eb9ec6ab37422b814e32783.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Tax returns", "name": "Tax returns" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public welfare", "name": "Public welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Telecommunication", "name": "Telecommunication" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc272057/", "id": "R43256_2013Dec23", "date": "2013-12-23", "retrieved": "2014-02-03T19:46:03", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": "This report discusses the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The act established a process for television broadcasters to release spectrum licensed to them for auction as commercial licenses. The act also included provisions to apply future spectrum license auction revenues toward deficit reduction; to establish a planning and governance structure to deploy public safety broadband networks, using some auction proceeds for that purpose; and to assign additional spectrum resources for public safety communications.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131223_R43256_956a247a387201944ed957cd8df54e0cc1f5c06d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131223_R43256_956a247a387201944ed957cd8df54e0cc1f5c06d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Tax returns", "name": "Tax returns" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Public welfare", "name": "Public welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Telecommunication", "name": "Telecommunication" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812796/", "id": "R43256_2013Nov18", "date": "2013-11-18", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131118_R43256_71e8a9c47d3076c7ea3a2eab50dc793110ee8ec3.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131118_R43256_71e8a9c47d3076c7ea3a2eab50dc793110ee8ec3.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810186/", "id": "R43256_2013Oct18", "date": "2013-10-18", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131018_R43256_b7084c981452cc075343870c5915197f927aaa5e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131018_R43256_b7084c981452cc075343870c5915197f927aaa5e.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Internet and Telecommunications Policy" ] }