WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Two top Republican

senators are introducing legislation on Monday that would

require some U.S. government-owned spectrum be auctioned off to

boost commercial wireless 5G networks.

Congress in March 2023 let the Federal Communications

Commission's authority to auction spectrum lapse for the first

time in three decades amid debate about what spectrum used by

the Defense Department could be repurposed or shared.

But demand for spectrum use is soaring, driven in part by

advancements in drones, self-driving vehicles, moon missions and

precision agriculture. Mobile U.S. wireless data traffic rose

38% in 2022, the largest-ever increase in mobile data traffic.

The "Spectrum Pipeline" bill sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz

and John Thune would require the Commerce Department's National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to

identify at least 2,500 megahertz of mid-band spectrum that

could be reallocated from federal government use to

non-governmental or shared use over the next 5 years.

The bill would require the FCC to auction at least 1,250

megahertz of spectrum for full-power commercial wireless

services, including 5G, within six years - and at least 600

megahertz within 3 years.

"To dominate in next-generation wireless technologies, stay

ahead of our adversaries, and advance strong economic growth,

the U.S. must create a pipeline to expand commercial access to

mid-band spectrum," Cruz, the top Republican on the Commerce

Committee, said in a statement to Reuters.

The NTIA announced steps in November aimed at freeing up

additional wireless spectrum by repurposing spectrum currently

set aside for parts of the federal government but has come under

fire from Republicans for not moving fast enough.

The White House National Spectrum Strategy and presidential

memorandum includes a study of more than 2,700 MHz of spectrum

for potential repurposing, including more than 1,600 megahertz

of mid-band spectrum.

Industry group CTIA, which represents AT&T ( T ), Verizon

, T-Mobile and other telecom companies, praised

the Cruz-Thune bill saying it would "create a strong pipeline of

full-power, licensed spectrum that will support Americans'

growing wireless data use, protect our national security, and

infuse real competition in the home broadband market."

Last month, three other senators urged the Biden

administration not to strip the Defense Department of spectrum

used for military radar systems in favor of commercial wireless.

Auctions of spectrum have raised $233 billion in proceeds

for the U.S. government over the last 30 years.