Verizon urged the U.S. Senate today to support S. 3347, the “Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act of 2018” sponsored by Senator Ed Markey, D-MA. This bill repeals the provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that directs the FCC to reallocate and auction the 470-512 MHz band (referred to as the “T-Band). Under Section 6103 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, public safety officials currently have to give up the T-band spectrum by 2021, in order for the spectrum to be auctioned for commercial use. The following statement should be attributed to

“The T-band provides spectrum for our first responders to communicate in times of emergency and crises,” said Robert Fisher, Verizon Senior Vice President, Federal Government Affairs. “Taking away this spectrum band from our public safety agencies would be disruptive to our public safety officials and detract from their main goal of keeping people safe. We urge the Senate Commerce Committee to take action on this bill to ensure that our public safety officials continue having access to this critically important spectrum. “