Tauzin & Upton Unveil Relocation Reimbursement Bill

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

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From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>

Tauzin & Upton Unveil Relocation Reimbursement Bill
By Mark Rockwell
October 11, 2002
news@2 direct
<http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=newsat2direct&starting=5&pubda
te=10/11/02>

WASHINGTON -- Government spectrum users got a boost this week, as
Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Billy Tauzin, R-La., introduced a bill
aiming to set up a way to reimburse government users for their
relocation costs. 

The bill earmarks certain funds from FCC spectrum auctions, funneling
them into a new fund for relocation expenses. Auction funds currently
are placed in the government's general fund, and aren't specifically
tracked in the budget.

U.S. wireless carriers have sought a way to simplify the movement of
government spectrum users off of frequencies that eventually will be
used for commercial wireless services. Under the new bill, government
users' can be reimbursed for relocating to new spectrum or the
purchase of new technology to suit the new frequencies. Also included
are expenses for modifying equipment, site acquisition and
construction costs, among other things. The Commercial Spectrum
Enhancement Act has no bill number yet.

''This proposal delivers exactly what America's spectrum policy
needs-certainty,'' says Tom Wheeler, CTIA's president and CEO in
comments on the new bill. ''It brings certainty to federal
incumbents, guaranteeing they will be fully reimbursed for their
relocation expenses.  It brings certainty to the wireless industry,
answering critical questions:  What does it cost bidders?  How long
will it take to access the spectrum?  And, most importantly, it
provides certainty to American taxpayers - the certainty that they
won't get stuck with relocation bills.''

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