Arlington, VA – 02/17/2012 – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®  today congratulates  Congress for passing legislation that includes language authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold voluntary incentive spectrum auctions.

“Congress has taken a momentous step in advancing our nation’s ability to innovate, create jobs of the future and meet the burgeoning needs of 21st century wireless networks,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “These auctions will bring sorely needed revenue to the U.S. Treasury while handsomely rewarding broadcasters who choose to participate. Most important, this will help ensure our wireless broadband products have more usable spectrum and thus will increase the likelihood that the U.S. will remain the global leader of the Internet economy. We eagerly await the president signing this bill into law and working with the FCC on the rules surrounding the auctions.”