Support Continues to Pour-In for Rulemaking to Clear Regulatory Hurdles to TV White Space Technology, Help Bridge Digital Divide

Support for the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) unanimous vote to clear regulatory barriers to TV white space (TVWS) technology in order to help bridge the digital divide continues to pour-in from a broad base of voices.

Leading U.S. Senators, committed to bridging the digital divide, have weighed-in commending Chairman Pai and the Commission for taking-up this rulemaking procedure to support rural broadband innovation.

Their support for the measure builds on praise from advocates for American farmers and rural communities, teachers and education, broadband connectivity and spectrum innovation, voices for small business and American consumers, members of the U.S. House, leading American innovators and industries impacted by the broadband gap.

What that broad-array of voices had to say about the FCC’s action to support TVWS can be found HERE.

Here are what members of the U.S. Senate are saying:

Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation:

“Expanding access to broadband is essential for rural communities. @ajitpaifcc and the @FCC’s vote to support greater unlicensed spectrum uses for broadband deployments is a positive step that can increase the pace of progress to bridge the #digitaldivide.” (Twitter, 3/4/20)

Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME):

“We fully support the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) mission to bridge the digital divide and agree with you that TVWS is an important part of this effort. We appreciate the FCC’s work to clear regulatory barriers to rural broadband innovation and applaud the Commission’s recent vote to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address the regulatory hurdles that remain surrounding TVWS. We were especially pleased to see that the NPRM addresses the use of TVWS for narrowband applications, such as precision agriculture, as well as moving platforms, such as school buses. We encourage the FCC to move quickly and adopt final rules from the NPRM by the end of 2020.” (Letter to FCC, 3/10/20)

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI):

“Thanks @AjitPaiFCC & @FCC for continued leadership to bridge the #digitaldivide. Great to see a bipartisan, unanimous vote to support TV white spaces, an innovative way to expand rural broadband. This is good news for rural Wisconsin. #TVWS”(Twitter, 3/2/20)

Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV):

“Another way we’re working to close the #digitaldivide. Glad to have @AjitPaiFCC as a partner in this effort. #CapitoConnect” (Twitter, 3/3/20)

Senator Steve Daines (R-MT):

“Thanks @AjitPaiFCC for responding to my call to expand broadband access in rural states like MT. We must have all the tools to attack the #digitaldivide.” (Twitter, 3/2/20)

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