Commission Document

• Print
• Email

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.
Internet:
http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
February
23,
2012
Louis
Peraertz,
(202)
418-2100
louis.peraertz@fcc.gov

STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN

ON CONGRESS GIVING THE FCC AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT VOLUNTARY INCENTIVE

AUCTIONS

“I am very pleased that President Obama signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation
Act of 2012. Title VI of that Act provides the Commission with statutory authority to implement
communications policies that will help our Nation maintain its leadership in technological innovation.

In 2010, the National Broadband Plan explained how America’s increasing demand for smart phones and
mobile broadband services has made it critical for the nation to find more ways to reallocate spectrum for
commercial mobile services. Our reliance on mobile wireless services has grown so much that the most
recent federal survey shows that approximately 30 percent of Americans rely solely upon mobile services
for their telephony needs. We should expect to see that demand increase even more dramatically, in light
of the enactment of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which gives
people living with disabilities greater access to the most advanced voice and data services on the market.
The more that Americans rely on mobile wireless service, the more we should do to promote competition
in that industry. This Act provides the Commission with important spectrum management tools it needs
to ensure that the structure of the mobile services industry serves the needs of American consumers.

This Act also includes provisions to spur the development of more advanced public safety
communications services. It provides important guidance about the framework that should be used to
develop the first ever nationwide, interoperable, public safety broadband network. It also promotes the
deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 networks that will give Americans more communications options in
times of emergency.

I congratulate both Houses for collaborating in a bipartisan fashion to pass these historic statutory
provisions. This is another example of how consensus within the communications industry can play such
a vital role in speeding much needed services to all Americans.”




-- FCC --

---