S. 3246: SMART Act
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S. 3246: SMART Act
116th Congress · introduced 2020-01-28 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2020-01-28 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
SMART Act
Plain summary
Spectrum Management And Reallocation for Taxpayers Act or the SMART Act This bill authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct a public auction of mid-band spectrum and places requirements on how the FCC must use the proceeds from such an auction. Specifically, the bill authorizes the FCC to identify, clear, and auction mid-band spectrum. The bill also establishes a (1) C-Band Reimbursement and Implementation Fund to reimburse costs and incentivize license holders to reduce their usage of spectrum so that it may be auctioned, (2) Digital Divide Trust Fund for deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, and (3) Next Generation 9–1–1 Trust Fund for deployment of upgraded 9–1–1 services that use a digital or internet protocol-based system. The FCC must use the proceeds from a spectrum auction authorized under this bill to (1) reimburse amounts borrowed from the general fund of the Treasury that were deposited into the C-Band Reimbursement and Implementation Fund, (2) deposit a specified amount into the general fund of the Treasury for the purpose of deficit reduction, and (3) deposit all remaining amounts in the Digital Divide Trust Fund and the Next Generation 9–1–1 Trust Fund. Additionally, the bill prohibits an entity that poses a national security risk from participating in a spectrum auction.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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)
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The strongest published arguments
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] · 3 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] reported raising $11.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.
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 (3)
- Authorization
- A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
- 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).
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116s3246.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/s>
Record fed-us-cong116-s3246 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116