DANIH K, INOUVE. HAWAII
JOHN F.K~RRV.MAS"'-"CHUSIOTTS
BYRON L.. DORGAN, NORm DAKOTA
BARIIAAA BOXffi. CAUFORNlA
BIU NELSON. fl.OIlIDA
MARIA CANTWELL.. WASHINGTON
FRANK R. L..4UTENUERG. NEW JEIISEY
MAlIK f'IlVOR. AIlKANSAS
ClAJM: McCASKILL.. MISSOURI
AMY KJ.OBUOtAII, MINNESOTA
TOM UDAll. NEW MEXICO
MAIlK WAllNER. VIRGINIA
MARK BEGICH, ALASKA
KAY BAlLEV HUTCHISON. TExAS
OlYMPlAJ. SNOWE. MAJNE
JO'iN ENSIGN. NEVADA
J'M tl<M<NT, SOVTHCAFlOUNA
JOHN Tl<UNE. SOVTH DAKOTA
ROGER~WICKER. MISSISSlPPl
JOHNNY OSAKSON. GEQI«;IA
DAVID VlTITII. LOUISIANA
SAM ElAOWNBACK. KANSAS
MEL MAII1lNEZ. flORIDA
MIKE JOHANNS, NEBMSKA
'1l:lnitcd~tatcs~cnatc
COMMlTIEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE,
AND TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6125
Wee SITE: http://commerce.senate.goy
ElLEN llONESKI. CHIEF OF STAFl'
CHIl'SnNE KURTH. REPUBlICAN STAFl' ornEClO" AND (JoENERAL COUNSEL
May 28, 2010
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chainnan
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
w
Street, S.W.
washin::£on,.c. 20554
I~,,'M"
-- .
Dcar Mr. owski:
We are writing to urge you to immediately begin a comprehensive inventory ofthe use ofradio spectrum by
non-federal government licensees and users under the Federal Communications Commission's jurisdiction.
Radio spectrum is a scarce, but valuable resourcc. As more and more ofour communications take place using
wireless technology, it is vitally importanl for us 10 understand how spectrum is allocated and used. Indeed,
gaining a bcttcr undcrstanding of how we use spectrum is the first step toward identifying how we can use this
resource most efficiently to carry out critical government missions and to help bring more advanced
communications services to consumers across the country.
As you are aware, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act, S. 649, is designed to provide Congress with a
comprehensive view ofhow the nation's radio spectrum is being used by both federal government and non 
federal government users. The bill would require ajoint inventory ofspectrum by the Commission and the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Unfortunately, despite our repeated
attempts to pass the bill through the full Senate, we remain at a stalemate.
Given this impasse, we encourage you to expedite this important undertaking by conducting an inventory,
consistent with the provisions ofS. 649, ofall non-federal government spectrum licensees and users. We
encourage you to coordinate with the NTIA, in light ofthat agcncy's oversight offederal government spectrum
users, in order to provide us a complete analysis of radio spectrum allocation and use. Such an inventory will be
a positive first step in helping us fonnulate a sound policy for this Nation's future spectrum needs.
::;~j
Chainnan, Subcomminee on
Communications, Technology,
and the Internet
Sincerely,
0862