Description:
H.R. 4190 would establish a prize competition aimed at spurring the commercialization of more efficient and cost-effective technologies for using the electromagnetic spectrum. The competition would be administered by the Secretary of Commerce in collaboration with other federal agencies. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $5 million for prize awards and such sums as may be necessary to administer the program.
Based on the historical costs of administering other federal prize competitions, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4190 would cost a total $6 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming the appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting H.R. 4190 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4190 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R 4190 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
On April 29, 2016, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 2555, the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on March 3, 2016. That bill included provisions similar to those in H.R. 4190 and CBO’s estimate of the cost to implement either measure is the same.
