Thune Statement on Committee Passage of 5G Spectrum Act


Thune Statement on Committee Passage of 5G Spectrum Act

“I will take a backseat to no one – on this committee or in the Senate – when it comes to advocating for more technology to be delivered, services to be delivered to rural areas of this country, and I will continue to do that.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the 5G Spectrum Act, which he introduced in November with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Commerce Committee. Their bill would ensure mid-band spectrum is quickly made available in the market by requiring a transparent and competitive public auctioning process. The bill would require that at least 50 percent of the first $40 billion in auction revenue be reserved for the American people and that a portion of those proceeds be dedicated specifically for rural broadband build-out. The bill prescribes a tiered system with respect to auction revenue, requiring 90 percent of the top tier – any revenue above $50 billion – to be returned to the American people.

“I support this legislation for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that if we don’t win the race to 5G, we’re going to lose out on the economic benefit and dividend that comes with that,” said Thune. “China isn’t having this kind of discussion right now. They’re just clearing mid-band spectrum and allowing their companies to go after it. This is important to the future of this country that we get this right, and the only way we get it right is we’ve got to get more mid-band spectrum made available for commercial use … And I will take a backseat to no one – on this committee or in the Senate – when it comes to advocating for more technology to be delivered, services to be delivered to rural areas of this country, and I will continue to do that.” 

The 5G Spectrum Act would:

  • Bring spectrum to market that provides the coverage and capacity essential for deployment in America’s rural communities.
  • Require the FCC to conduct a public auction of C band spectrum.
  • Require the auction to start no later than December 31, 2020.
  • Require the FCC to make available at least 280 MHz of spectrum.
  • Require the FCC to capture for the taxpayer at least 50 percent of the fair market value of the spectrum.
  • 10 percent of these proceeds would be specifically dedicated to rural broadband build-out, including a set-aside for tribal areas.

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19 thoughts on “Thune Statement on Committee Passage of 5G Spectrum Act”

  1. We should let China have all the Communism they want.

    We should let them have all the glioblastomas they can handle, if that’s what their unfree people desire.

    5G is a carcinogen that enables a mass surveillance state to violate the sensibilities of The US Constitution.

    Why is Thune leading the charge for domestic communism and domestic cancer?

    Like a drunk single cowboy at the bar on Friday night .. he’s got a one-track mind, as thought there were no other solutions to rural broadband (FIBER).

    He may as well say he’s “doing it for the children” by parroting out “we’re doing it for the rural” over-and-over.

    Senator Thune has not had a real job in his entire adult life, nor does he have any personal qualifications in the technology industry .. now, for some reason he thinks he has efficacious high-ground to dictate cancer to the good people of SD.

    News Flash – we have Fiber Optic cables running all across the state. Extend these to the rural with a truly smart, low bandwidth emergency channel.

    Start listening to the people who understand technology and alternative, truly “SMART” ways to solve rural America’s problems.

    Let China have the 5G and quit letting them goad you and the US into buying this 5G snake-oil.

    Or, you could double down in a really crappy hand, lose anyway, and externalize the cost of portfolios with Cisco stock to the healthcare of SD residents.

    WAKE-UP.

    1. You say so much, are you hoping Thune will listen? He won’t. You’re not alone, he’s not listening to anyone sharing their concerns and there are many. Maybe you’re hoping you will get to vote on 5G going up in your neighborhood? You won’t. Thune does not care about your thoughts or if 5G could harm people or if it enables a mass surveillance.

      Did you read his statements? In Thune’s own words it’s about…

      Winning the race to 5G and it’s more imperative than ever that we beat our global competitors in this space.

      It’s about the money.

      1. My purpose is not to puppet Thune.

        My intent is to be ON RECORD that this is a bad idea, so when the fallout starts (it will be much bigger than Phillip Morris), I will not be a target, and I – as an expert in my field – will have credibility as someone who did everything he could to avoid this quagmire, affront to humanity.

      2. We sent a 5G cease and desist to the City of Spearfish. Posterior to installing any 5G, if my family develops a glioblastoma, we will have no option but to seek damages.

        So, no to 5G.

        I like my brain and heart tissue just the way they are .. cancer free and intact.

        Furthermore, when at home .. PLUG IN THE ETHERNET.

        1. Did you get others to do the same? I know of communities who put up 5G towers and then took them down after experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, etc.

          Going on record, that’s a smart idea. I don’t think they care what doctors, residents or tech experts say, the towers are still going up.

          1. The city responded and said they would not be installing 5G in the light poles, despite that I believe that was the plan originally.

            My voice is amplified through PlainsTribune.com – that may have been one reason. Also, I think the leadership of our city tries to do the right thing and realizes they walk a difficult road between military desires, free market exploitation, and citizen safety.

            I got a result, but that doesn’t mean they won’t use an LED on steroids to do surveillance (not technically 5G). I have some equipment to monitor the poles that are going up to make sure.

            I’ve also planned an awareness campaign locally to make people more aware of the issues, to lobby SDN to lower their prices for fiber, and for those who can afford it to purchase fiber connections instead of 5G (fiber is faster anyway).

  2. This sounds like a bad deal for Pai, who’s only there to get rich. I’d bet it doesn’t pass.

  3. I’ll say it again, but in a different way.

    Advocate for more technology, Thune .. but there is more than one way to skin a cat.

    Fiber to the curb with very lightweight wireless (pre 2G) has yet to be explored as an option.

    Anything beyond that is for surveillance .. we all know that.

    1. What about satellites? There was a phone call made from the moon to Earth. We’re not able to put 5G tech into outer space?!!

      1. Satellites – distance from the transmitter is proportional to the risk.

        Satellite phones are HORRIBLE because they must be high power, and because they transmit right next to the brain.

        5G is supposed to be installed everywhere .. close, and broadcasting a lot of data, so it’s like they’re putting us in a microwave.

        1. The satellite idea is probably not going to work, not only because of what you’ve mentioned, but because they don’t actually go into outer space.

          Seems a science fiction writer and confessed pedophile is credited for the invention of satellites which are attached to hot air balloons. Surprisingly, NASA is the biggest consumer of helium, and much of science is created by sci-fi writers. Who would’ve guessed!

    1. Many people jumped on board with the Patriot Act, you think the majority care their rights are violated?

      Fear is used to control and many can’t see through it. They’ll continue to chew on their cud and agree to anything because the MSM, Hollywood and the govt tells them to believe everything they’re told.

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            Spooks will like this one – “The McAfee Interview” is at this link (LANGUAGE WARNING):
            https://plainstribune.com/podcast?service=podcast.PodCastDetail&streamId=a87cb25cc63e6dd42bcf8887fb2eed4e

            w00t!

  4. Here in Palm Beach County, Florida where they are putting cell towers on every corner. It is a horror and is making people sick. These towers pump out radiation at power densities 10,000X higher than anything people have evolved in. They are destroying the state with these metal monsters that look like bad orthodonture on a pole. They are debasing property values and making people sick. I had to shut off all wi-fi and mitigate contamination in my house because of the excessive pollution outside. My phone stays off and in a faraday bag and I carry it just for emergencies. This is a horror. The high density fields of microwaves leave you disoriented and confused. I can no longer travel the interstate because they are have directional power beams aimed at drivers. There are many places you can no longer go outside because of the tower pollution. High density fields change how you feel (negative, tired, with pervasive anxiety) and muddle your thinking. This is a horror from Hell, belongs in Communist China and has no part in a free and decent society. The people promoting this are nothing but murderers. MURDERERS!

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