TIA pushes for wireless spectrum and public safety network legislation

WASHINGTON, USA: Following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) President Grant Seiffert issued the following statement:

“We deeply appreciate President Obama’s commitment to extend broadband access to all Americans. We also thank him for his strong support for innovation and research and development and we’re pleased that he noted the importance of the tech industry’s contributions to economic growth and creation of jobs in the United States.

“We ask again that the President urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure passage of wireless spectrum and public safety network legislation, which will lead to creation of an estimated 100,000 new jobs in ICT industries and, over time, produce indirect benefits of an estimated $4 to $8 billion per year. I must stress again that spectrum auction authority for the FCC is crucial to ensure that demand for mobile data can be met to allow technologists to continue to innovate.“

“Auction authority is vital to America’s future competitiveness. Currently spending on telecommunications equipment in international markets outpaces spending in the United States more than 4-to-1. US companies need the government to address issues such as the spectrum crunch to create ideal conditions domestically and to provide a level playing field for trade to help narrow that gap.

“TIA also encourages the Obama Administration to fully implement the recommendations in its 'Innovation Package: A Roadmap for Growing Jobs & the Economy’. The Innovation Package provides a concrete set of policy recommendations for the US government to implement to recapture global competitiveness, drive investment, and enable forward-looking technologies.”