2017 House Resolution 53: Get Out of the Way

House Resolution 53: Get Out of the Way


Summary, emphases and [comments], below, by Scientists For Wired Technology (‘S4WT’).

Bill Summary: HRes.53

The resolutions is short, so it would be better to read it, below, than to rely on this summary:

  • Whereas: US "technology and communications industries have historically been . . . devoid of burdensome Government regulations . . . we should continually strive to advance this rapidly growing source of social and economic benefit"

  • The United States Should: further deregulate, make more spectrum available, set national goals for increasingly higher data speeds for transmitting high-quality, real-time voice, data, graphics, and video and protect end-user privacy.

Scientists For Wired Technology Bill Analysis: HRes.53

Similar to Senate Resolution 242 (5G Networks Deployment Strategy), HRes.53 is a direct translation of the Wireless industry’s wish list. There is little consideration of the appropriate uses of Wireline Fiber Optic to the Premises (FTTP) for the most data intensive transmission (video) and using Wireless for less data-intensive transmissions (text/image/voice). Sending data point-to-point via Fiber Optics is thousands of times more energy efficient than indiscriminately spraying the data through the air.

Most of the benefits in this resolution can be achieved via FTTP. Real consumer choice is the decision of whether or not to allow wireless transmissions into one’s home or work environment, since RF microwave radiation at peak power levels greater than 10 microwatts per square meter is a toxic agent. No one would tolerate second-hand cigarette smoke pumped into their home and work environments 24/7/365 for the benefit of streaming video wirelessly. The analogy applies directly to Wireless data transmsissions.

This resolution’s lack of recognition of the well-established scientific facts establishing the hazards of Wireless data transmissions and its reliance on very thin industry projections, makes this resolution not in the best interests of the American people, only in the best interests of a few powerful private Telecomm companies who contribute millions of dollars to to US Senate and House candidates’ campaigns and communities.

HRes.53 Bill Text

115th CONGRESS, 1st Session

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to continue aggressive growth in the Nation’s telecommunications and technology industries, the United States Government should “Get Out of the Way and Stay Out of the Way”.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 13, 2017
Mr. Latta submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to continue aggressive growth in the Nation’s telecommunications and technology industries, the United States Government should “Get Out of the Way and Stay Out of the Way”.

Whereas the technology and communications industries in the United States have historically been some of the most competitive in the world and devoid of burdensome Government regulations;

Whereas the United States has over 102,000,000 fixed broadband connections;

Whereas wireless auctions are the reason the United States has over 253,000,000 wireless broadband connections;

Whereas public-private partnerships, like those piloted by organizations such as Connected Nation, have raised broadband subscription rates, especially in rural areas, by increasing both broadband supply and demand without having to rely on regulation;

Whereas deregulatory policies and free-market competition consistently yield a higher rate of economic growth, a greater standard of living for all Americans, and an enhanced capacity for the United States to be competitive in the global marketplace;

Whereas the digital age expands an individual’s reach and ability to connect with family and friends, provides new and exciting educational opportunities, and expands a growing global economy, while simultaneously exposing an individual to a myriad of new threats such as identity theft and other methods of online victimization, and resulting in the increase of attempted criminal cyber attacks on businesses and communications networks; and

Whereas we should continually strive to advance this rapidly growing source of social and economic benefit to the Nation:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved,

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that in order to continue aggressive growth in the Nation’s telecommunications and technology industries, the United States Government should "Get Out of the Way and Stay Out of the Way" by —

(1) Promoting investment through deregulation and free-market competition;

(2) Making additional spectrum available for commercial usage through unencumbered auctions, reallocation of Federal spectrum, and efficient spectrum sharing;

(3) Establishing a national goal of transmitting high-quality, real-time voice, data, graphics, and video at increasingly higher speeds to all people in the United States, especially in rural and underserved areas;

(4) Ensuring individual privacy protections without compromising marketplace efficiencies; and

(5) Promoting cyber threat sharing for allowing the private sector to actively defend their communications networks.