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S 28 112th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Advisory bodies Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Emergency communications systems Government trust funds Licensing and registrations

Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act

Introduced: January 25, 2011 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 25, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S146-149)
Jan 25, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S146)
Jan 25, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) ensure the deployment of a nationwide public safety interoperable broadband network in the 700 MHz band which is deployed in both rural and urban areas; (2) reallocate and integrate the 700 MHz D block spectrum for use by public safety entities; (3) permit flexible use of the narrowband spectrum; (4) ensure that the nationwide public safety broadband network is fully interoperable on a nationwide basis; and (5) establish a 10-year public safety advisory board.

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to increase the electromagnetic spectrum allocation for public safety services by 10 megahertz.

Permits the FCC, if consistent with the public interest for a licensee to relinquish voluntarily some or all of its licensed spectrum usage rights in order to permit the assignment of new initial licenses, to disburse to that licensee portions of the auction proceeds related to the new use that are attributable to the licensee's relinquished spectrum usage.

Extends FCC auction authority until September 30, 2020.

Authorizes secondary use of the public safety spectrum, subject to specified limitations and conditions.

Establishes in the Treasury: (1) the Public Safety Interoperable Broadband Network Construction Fund; and (2) the Public Safety Interoperable Broadband Network Maintenance and Operation Fund.

Directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish a grant program to assist public safety entities establish a nationwide public safety interoperable broadband network in the 700 MHz band.

What's happening now January 25, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S146-149)

 Related & companion bills 6
  • HR 607 Related bill Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011
  • HR 911 Related bill Spectrum Inventory and Auction Act of 2011
  • HR 1622 Related bill Spectrum Innovation Act
  • HR 2482 Related bill Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act
  • S 455 Related bill RADIOS Act
  • S 415 Related bill Spectrum Optimization Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Sep 22, 2011
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 17, 2011
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Feb 15, 2011
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Feb 14, 2011
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Jan 25, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 28: Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-28/
MLA
"S. 28: Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-28/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 28, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-28/.
Markdown link
[S. 28: Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-28/)
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