In July 2002, NTIA released an assessment ("Viability Assessment') which identified 90 MHz of spectrum that could be allocated for 3G services to meet the increasing demand for new commercial services without disrupting communications systems critical to national security.¹  On November 7, 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reallocated this 90 MHz of spectrum to fixed and mobile services, making it available for advanced wireless services.²  On November 25, 2003, the FCC adopted service rules for this spectrum, including provisions pertaining to application procedures, licensing, technical operations, and competitive bidding.³ 

On December 23, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) which provided a funding mechanism through which federal agencies can recover the costs associated with relocating their radio communications systems from certain bands to be auctioned for commercial purposes. The CSEA required the FCC to notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (federal agency relocation NTIA) at least 18 months in advance of an auction of spectrum subject to the Act's provisions.  In turn NTIA, on behalf of the federal agencies, and after review by the Office of Management and Budget, must provide the FCC and members of Congress with specific data regarding the estimated costs and timelines for relocating federal agencies from the affected spectrum at least 6 months prior to an auction.  On December 29, 2004 the FCC notified the NTIA that the auction of the 1710-1755 MHz band will commence as early as 2006.  As a result, to meet the provisions of the CSEA, NTIA requested the federal agencies to submit cost estimates and timelines for relocation to NTIA by September 15, 2005.  The federal agencies completed this task and on October 13, 2005, NTIA provided this information to the Office of Management and Budget for review.  

The U.S. Department of Commerce provided on December 27, 2005, the FCC, the House of Representatives and the Senate estimated federal agency relocation costs and timelines information associated with relocating federal operations fromfor the 1710-1755 MHz band.  The total number of frequency assignments that will be relocated by 12 federal agencies is 2,240 and the cost for the relocation of Federal Government operations is estimated to be $935,940,312.  This effort is part of the 90 MHz of radio spectrum that is to be made available for the near term for advance wireless (including third generation or "3G") telecommunications services to meet the demand for new wireless services.  To complete the 90 MHz of spectrum being made available for advanced wireless services, the additional 45 MHz of spectrum will be provided by the FCC (2110-2155 MHz band).

NTIA provided the following specific information to the FCC, the House of Representatives, and the Senate for each unclassified 1710-1755 MHz frequency assignment/system:

a) Serial number;
b) Operating frequency;
c) Service type;
d) System name;
e) Bureau within a federal agency;
f) Transmitter state location;
g) Transmitter geographic location;
h) Transmitter latitude and longitude;
i) Receiver state location;
j) Receiver geographic location(s);
k) Receiver latitude(s) and longitude(s);
l) Relocation timelines; and
f) Estimated relocation costs.

With respect to classified assignments and systems, NTIA provided only the serial number and the cost figure for relocating or modifying any classified frequency assignment/system.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please notify Mr. Gary Patrick of the Office of Spectrum Management at NTIA.  His email address is Gpatrick@ntia.doc.gov and his phone number is (202) 482-9132.