Cruz, Cantwell Spar Again on Senate's Spectrum Reconciliation Proposal
The offices of Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., continued sparring Monday over panel Republicans’ proposed spectrum language for the chamber’s budget reconciliation package. The proposal, which Cruz released earlier this month, would renew the FCC’s lapsed auction authority through Sept. 30, 2034, and mandate an 800 MHz pipeline of spectrum for licensed sale (see 2506060029). The measure proposes excluding the 3.1-3.45 GHz and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands from potential reallocation. Cantwell repeatedly criticized Republicans’ proposal last week as inadequately protecting DOD-controlled airwaves (see 2506120084).
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Cruz’s office cited the support of a range of stakeholders for the spectrum reconciliation proposal, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, AT&T, CTIA, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the National Taxpayers Union, the R Street Institute, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Meanwhile, Cantwell’s office reinforced her criticism during a Center for Strategic and International Studies event last week. She called it “a very dangerous proposal, because it really doesn't look at all the details about the incumbent users, in this case, a lot of military applications.”
Cruz’s office also circulated a Wall Street Journal editorial board opinion piece published Sunday, which emphasized that “Republicans have struck a deal to auction more government spectrum” and that Armed Services Committee GOP members who previously raised concerns about repurposing DOD spectrum “are backing the deal.” A handful of those Armed Services Republicans, including Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, are still seeking changes to the proposal’s exclusions language. Cruz has thus far said he won’t agree to further changes (see 2506110052). The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board credited Cruz and President Donald Trump for “massaging the competing interests” that in recent years repeatedly stalled spectrum legislative talks.