Congressmen Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) have introduced the Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act (H.R. 1814) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill aims to incentivize collaboration between wireless carriers to bridge service gaps in rural areas. Specifically, H.R. 1814 would direct the FCC to establish a program that would allow wireless carriers that receive a spectrum license under Section 307 of the Communications Act of 1934 to partition or disaggregate the license in order to lease unused spectrum to small and rural carriers. Carriers that participate in the program would receive a 3-year extension of their license. The bill defines “small carrier” as a carrier with no more than 1,500 employees. H.R. 1814 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.
