FEDERAL CO M MUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFF IC E O F 
T HE C H AIRMAN 
The Honorable Mark Pryor 
Chairman 
March 27, 2014 
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
United States Senate 
512 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
Washington, DC 20510 
Dear Chairman Pryor: 
Thank you for your letter encouraging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 
to promptly examine the possible expansion of unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band. I share 
your recognition of the importance of making available more unlicensed spectrum, and I agree 
that steps must be taken to alleviate the strain on existing unlicensed bands. 
The FCC is committed to realizing the tremendous promise the 5 GHz band offers for 
unlicensed use, but we also remain obligated to protect incumbent users from harmful 
interference, pursuant to the FCC' s rules. Our staff has been working with all of the stakeholders 
to resolve the teclmical challenges associated with increasing the utility of this spectrum, while 
also protecting incumbent, licensed users. 
Based on comments received in response to the FCC' s February 2013 Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking and the continuing collaborative efforts of the various stakeholders- and consistent 
with the recommendation in your letter - the Commission is poised to act to enhance the utility 
of the spectrum that is already available for unlicensed U-NII use. At its March 31 Agenda 
Meeting, the FCC will consider a Report and Order that would revise FCC rules to make 1 00 
megahetiz of 5 GHz U-Nil -1 band unlicensed spectrum more useful for consumers and 
businesses, and reduce the potential for harmful interference to certain incumbent operations. If 
adopted, the Report and Order would enhance operational flexibility, and continue to foster the 
development of new and innovative unlicensed devices, which will increase wireless broadband 
access and investment. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be included in the record of this 
proceeding and considered during the FCC' s review. Please let me know ifl can be of any 
fmiher assistance. 
Sincerely,