Media Contact: 
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
CHAIRMAN PAI STATEMENT ON THE AIRWAVES ACT
WASHINGTON, August 1, 2017 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai 
issued the following statement regarding the introduction by Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado 
and Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire of the Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating 
Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum Act:
“I am grateful to Senators Gardner and Hassan for introducing the AIRWAVES Act. This 
bipartisan bill addresses an issue that’s critical to continued American leadership in wireless 
innovation: making available more spectrum for commercial use.  I’m also very pleased that they 
have proposed a ‘rural dividend,’ under which 10 percent of proceeds from spectrum auctions
would be devoted to increasing wireless Internet access in rural areas. This provision would go a 
long way toward closing the digital divide, which has left too many rural Americans in the analog 
era.  I look forward to working with Senators Gardner and Hassan on their forward-thinking 
legislation.”
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Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes 
official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).