A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that United States leadership in 5G wireless technology is a national priority.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 259 Expressing the sense of the Senate that United States leadership in 5G wireless technology is a national priority. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 24, 2019 Mr. JOHNSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that United States leadership in 5G wireless technology is a national priority. Whereas the United States led the world in the development and deployment of fourth-generation (commonly known as ‘‘4G’’) wireless technology, such as Long Term Evo- lution (commonly known as ‘‘LTE’’); Whereas United States leadership in 4G technology created a mobile broadband economy that generated hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions of dollars of investment and economic growth, and tremendous consumer benefits; Whereas the fifth generation of wireless connectivity, known as ‘‘5G’’, promises to be even more transformative, with speeds 100 times faster than 4G and even greater capac- ity to carry wireless traffic than 4G; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR259.IS SR259 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 259 IS Whereas the benefits of 5G technology to the people of the United States will be substantial, including better access to high-quality health care through telemedicine, better and cheaper food production through precision agri- culture, more efficient manufacturing and transportation systems, more advanced educational opportunities, more avenues for entrepreneurship, more sophisticated and se- cure military applications and devices, and other benefits that cannot yet be conceived; Whereas the Federal Communications Commission has intro- duced a comprehensive strategy to promote United States leadership in 5G technology, entitled ‘‘Facilitating Amer- ica’s Superiority in 5G Technology’’ (or the ‘‘5G FAST Plan’’); Whereas a core component of the 5G FAST Plan for the de- velopment and deployment of 5G technology in the United States is making substantially more spectrum available, including low-band, mid-band, and high-band airwaves; Whereas the Federal Communications Commission is vested with authority to make spectrum available for the com- mercial marketplace; and Whereas the failure of the United States Government to present a unified position on the appropriate policies for critical 5G spectrum bands, including the 24 gigahertz band, at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (commonly referred to as ‘‘WRC–19’’) and to per- suade allies to support that position could lead to a deci- sion that would make those bands unusable for purposes of 5G technology development, impeding United States leadership and empowering global rivals: Now, therefore, be it VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR259.IS SR259 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 259 IS Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) deems it a national priority for the United 2 States to lead the world in the development and de- 3 ployment of fifth-generation (commonly known as 4 ‘‘5G’’) wireless technology; 5 (2) supports the efforts of the Federal Commu- 6 nications Commission to make spectrum available 7 for the commercial marketplace; and 8 (3) strongly urges all entities, including Federal 9 agencies, to work cooperatively with the Federal 10 Communications Commission to advance the goal of 11 United States leadership in 5G technology, including 12 at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Con- 13 ference 2019. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:09 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR259.IS SR259 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS