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H.R. 4953: AIRWAVES Act

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H.R. 4953: AIRWAVES Act

115th Congress · introduced 2018-02-06 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2018-02-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lance, Leonard [R-NJ-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

AIRWAVES Act

Plain summary

Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum Act or the AIRWAVES Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete auctions by December 31, 2020, that will grant priority access broadcast licenses for specified frequency spectrum bands. The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration are directed to identify frequencies in specified spectrum bands that may be utilized for non-federal unlicensed use and commercial licensed use. The FCC must allocate 10% of proceeds from each of the spectrum band auctions specified in the bill to expand wireless infrastructure in rural areas that are underserved or unserved. The FCC shall conduct a study on how unlicensed frequency spectrum bands can be utilized for: (1) the provision of healthcare in rural areas, (2) distance learning, and (3) facilitating innovations in agriculture.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

AIRWAVES Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lance, Leonard [R-NJ-7] · 54 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Peter Welch (D-VT), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John R. Curtis (R-UT), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4953 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115