Rubio Unveils Wireless Innovation Act

co-sponsors last Congress and another rumored bill on wireless siting that Rubio was preparing to introduce in December -- with Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., as co-sponsor -- but didn’t. This 46-page bill unveiled Thursday has Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., as co-sponsors. “The Wireless Innovation Act promotes the deployment of wireless infrastructure on federally owned properties to increase wireless coverage and capacity, so Americans can access 21st century technologies and so the infrastructure is there to support the Internet of Things,” Rubio said in a statement. “This policy would also provide transparency on the use and value of federal spectrum and informs the public on how federal entities use a scarce resource.” NTIA would have to reallocate 200 MHz of spectrum below 5 GHz, the bill said. The Office of Management and Budget would have a bigger role in reviewing spectrum to help free it up. The bill would aid in streamlining wireless siting by forming “a standard fee and master application to grant real property interests,” a Rubio news release said. CEA, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA and PCIA praised the bill. CTIA Vice President-Government Affairs Jot Carpenter lauded it as “forward-looking.” PCIA President Jonathan Adelstein, speaking at a Federalist Society panel Thursday, praised it as “so well put together” and "so potentially bipartisan.” No Democrats were listed as backing the bill.