With Verizon and AT&T expected to rollout 5G wireless service in the second half of this year, smart cities are in for a major upgrade. But in order for companies to offer broad access to 5G, more spectrum is required.  

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) introduced the Spectrum Now Act on June 6 to make it easier to reassign spectrum for commercial use.  

“My legislation will help drive the progress from 4G to 5G, which is critically important to keeping our nation competitive,” Matsui said at a June 14 Bloomberg Government event.  

“Our goal is to bring together technology to create fully integrated connected and inclusive communities,” Matsui said. “The Spectrum Now bill seeks to help achieve that by increasing the amount of available spectrum to meet the wireless data needs of the next generation broadband networks in cities across the country.”