S. 2869 — A bill to facilitate the ability of certain spectrum auction winners to pursue alternative measures required in the public interest to meet the needs of wireless telecommunications consumers.

Summary

Allows a winning bidder to which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has not granted an Auction 35 license (broadband personal communications service spectrum auction related to spectrum previously licensed to NextWave Personal Communications, Inc., Next Wave Power Partners, Inc., or Urban Comm North Carolina, Inc.) to irrevocably elect to relinquish any right, title, or interest in that license and associated application by formal written notice to the FCC. Allows such election only within the 30-day period after enactment of this Act. Frees any winning bidder making such election from all license and application obligations, including the obligation to pay the winning bid amount.

Requires the FCC: (1) within 37 days after receiving such an election, to return to such bidder any deposit or down-payment made; and (2) within five days after enactment of this Act, to issue a public notice specifying the form and process for the return of deposits and down-payments.

Makes inapplicable to this Act certain Federal paperwork reduction requirements.

Expresses the sense of Congress that no inference with respect to any issue of law or fact in Federal Communications Commission v. NextWAVE Personal Communications, Inc., et al. should be drawn from this Act.

Legislative Actions

2002-08-01

Introduced in Senate

2002-08-01

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7939)

2002-08-01

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

2002-11-14

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

2002-11-14

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

2002-11-14

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S11153-11154)

2002-11-14

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2002-11-14

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2002-11-19

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

2002-11-19

Received in the House.

2002-11-19

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2002-11-22

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

A bill to facilitate the ability of certain spectrum auction winners to pursue alternative measures required in the public interest to meet the needs of wireless telecommunications consumers.

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