Bill Details
Status
Latest action
2025-02-27 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced Date
2025-02-27
Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
5
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require the Commerce Department’s communications official to review how federal agencies are using radio spectrum, which is the airwaves used for wireless communication. Within 18 months, the official would have to examine the spectrum assigned to each federal agency, then send Congress a report showing what parts of the spectrum are being used, what they are used for, where they are used, whether they are shared with others, and whether any parts are sitting unused.
- The audit would be done by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, working with each federal agency.
- The report to Congress would list each spectrum band used by an agency, explain how it is being used, and show the geographic area where it is assigned.
- The report would also say whether each band is used only by one federal agency or shared with other federal or non-federal users, and identify any unused spectrum.
- The report would be sent in unclassified form, but it could include a classified add-on if needed.
Official Summaries
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to audit and report to Congress on electromagnetic spectrum that is assigned or allocated to federal entities. The report must identify each spectrum band used by a federal entity and detail where, how, and to what extent each such band is being used.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 794 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 794
To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and
Information to audit Federal spectrum.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and
Information to audit Federal spectrum.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FEDERAL SPECTRUM AUDIT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information; and
(2) the term ``Federal entity'' has the meaning given the
term in section 113(l) of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923(l)).
(b) Audit and Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with
the head of each Federal entity, shall--
(1) conduct an audit of the electromagnetic spectrum that
is assigned or otherwise allocated to each Federal entity as of
the date of the audit; and
(2) submit to Congress, and make available to each Member
of Congress upon request, a report containing the results of
the audit conducted under paragraph (1).
(c) Contents of Report.--The Assistant Secretary shall include in
the report submitted under subsection (b)(2), with respect to the
electromagnetic spectrum that is assigned or otherwise allocated to a
Federal entity as of the date of the audit--
(1) each particular band of spectrum being used by the
Federal entity;
(2) a description of each purpose for which a particular
band described in paragraph (1) is being used, and how much of
the band is being used for that purpose;
(3) the State or other geographic area in which a
particular band described in paragraph (1) is assigned or
allocated for use;
(4) whether a particular band described in paragraph (1) is
used exclusively by the Federal entity or shared with another
Federal entity or a non-Federal entity; and
(5) any portion of the spectrum that is not being used by
the Federal entity.
(d) Form of Report.--The report required under subsection (b)(2)
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.
(e) Relation to Department of Transportation Spectrum Audit.--The
Assistant Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of
Transportation to ensure that the audit conducted under this section
does not duplicate the audit conducted under section 27003 of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58; 135 Stat.
884).
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