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S 1682 115th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Government studies and investigations Infrastructure development Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Licensing and registrations Rural conditions and development Telephone and wireless communication

AIRWAVES Act

Introduced: August 1, 2017 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 1, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Aug 1, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum Act or the AIRWAVES Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete auctions during each of the next three calendar years that will grant new broadcast licenses for specified frequency spectrum bands.

The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration are directed to identify frequencies in specified spectrum bands that may be utilized for: (1) non-federal unlicensed use; and (2) commercial licensed use.

The FCC must allocate 10% of proceeds from each of the spectrum band auctions specified in the bill to expand wireless infrastructure in rural areas that are underserved or unserved.

The FCC shall conduct a study on how unlicensed frequency spectrum bands can be utilized for: (1) the provision of healthcare in rural areas, (2) distance learning, and (3) facilitating innovations in agriculture.

What's happening now August 1, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 4953 Related bill AIRWAVES Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 3 Republican 4 Independent 1
R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Nov 14, 2018
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Aug 23, 2018
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Aug 23, 2018
 R
Young, Todd
Indiana · Jul 23, 2018
 R
Johnson, Ron
Wisconsin · Jun 28, 2018
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Jun 28, 2018
 D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Jun 19, 2018
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Aug 1, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1682: AIRWAVES Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1682/
MLA
"S. 1682: AIRWAVES Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1682/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1682, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1682/.
Markdown link
[S. 1682: AIRWAVES Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1682/)
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