THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release October 13, 2000
October 13, 2000
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Advanced Mobile Communications/Third Generation
Wireless Systems
The United States and the rest of the world are on the verge of a new
generation
of personal mobile communications, as wireless phones become portable
high-speed
Internet connections. The United States Government must move quickly
and
purposefully so that consumers, industry, and Government agencies all
reap the
benefits of this third generation of wireless products and services.
In less than 20 years, the U.S. wireless industry has blossomed from
virtually
nothing to one with 100 million subscribers, and it continues to grow
at a rate
of 25 to 30 percent annually. Globally, there are over 470 million
wireless
subscribers, a number expected to grow to approximately 1.3 billion
within the
next 5 years. It is an industry in which U.S. companies have developed
the
leading technologies for current and future systems. It is an industry
whose
products help people throughout the world communicate better and in
more places,
saving time, money, and lives.
Many saw the first generation of wireless -- cell phones -- as an extravagant
way to make telephone calls. Yet as with all communications systems,
the value
of wireless communications increased as the number of users and types
of use
increased. Today's second generation wireless technology increased
services and
information offered to users and increased competition among providers.
Digital
"personal communications services" provide added messaging and data
features,
including such services as voice mail, call waiting, text messaging,
and,
increasingly, access to the World Wide Web. These first and second
generation
services increased productivity and reduced costs for thousands of
businesses as
well as Government agencies.
The next generation of wireless technology holds even greater promise.
Neither
the first nor the second generation of wireless technologies were designed
for
multi-media services, such as the Internet. Third generation wireless
technologies will bring broadband to hand-held devices. Higher speeds
and
increased capability will lead to new audio, video, and other applications,
which may create what many are calling "mobile-commerce" (m-commerce)
that
people will use in ways that are unimaginable today. Moreover, an international
effort is underway to make it possible for the next generation of wireless
phones to work anywhere in the world.
The Federal Government has always played a crucial role in the development
of
wireless services. To foster the development of cellular telephone
service, the
Federal Government made available radio frequency spectrum that had
previously
been used by other commercial and Government services. For the second
generation -- digital PCS -- the Federal Government allocated spectrum
in bands
occupied by private sector users, and ensured competition by awarding
numerous
licenses, while maintaining technology neutrality.
The United States has also placed a high value on promoting Internet
access.
Government support for the development of third generation wireless
systems will
help combine the wireless revolution with the Internet revolution.
As part of
these efforts, radio spectrum must be made available for this new use.
The
United States has already been active by, among other things, participating
at
the World Radiocommunication Conference 2000 (WRC-2000) earlier this
year.
WRC-2000 adopted the basic principles of the U.S. position, which was
negotiated
by Govern-ment and industry stakeholders: (1) governments may choose
spectrum
from any one or all of the bands identified for third generation mobile
wireless; (2) governments have the flexibility to identify spectrum
if and when
they choose; and (3) no specific technology will be identified for
third
generation services. This result will allow deployment of the best
technologies
and permit the United States to move forward with rapid deployment
of third
generation services in a way that advances all U.S. interests.
The spectrum identified by international agreement at WRC-2000, however,
is
already being used in the United States by commercial tele-communications,
television, national defense, law enforcement, air traffic control,
and other
services. Similar difficulties in making spectrum available for third
generation mobile wireless systems are evident in other parts of the
world.
Because different regions have already selected different bands, there
almost
certainly will be a few preferred bands rather than a single band for
third
generation services.
In the United States, Federal Government agencies and the private sector
must
work together to determine what spectrum could be made available for
third
generation wireless systems.
Accordingly, I am hereby directing you, and strongly encouraging independent
agencies, to be guided by the following principles in any future actions
they
take related to development of third generation wireless systems:
-- Third generation wireless systems need radio frequency spectrum on
which to
operate. Executive departments and agencies and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) must cooperate with industry to identify spectrum
that can be
used by third generation wireless systems, whether by reallocation,
sharing, or
evolution of existing systems, by July 2001;
-- Incumbent users of spectrum identified for reallocation or sharing
must be
treated equitably, taking national security and public safety into
account;
-- The Federal Government must remain technology-neutral, not favoring
one
technology or system over another, in its spectrum allocation and licensing
decisions;
-- The Federal Government must support policies that encourage competition
in
services and that provide flexibility in spectrum allocations to encourage
competition; and
-- The Federal Government must support industry efforts as far as practicable
and based on market demand and national considera-tions, including
national
security and international treaty obligations, to harmonize spectrum
allocations
regionally and internationally.
I also direct the relevant agencies as follows:
1. I direct the Secretary of Commerce to work cooperatively with the
FCC, as
the agencies within the Federal Government with shared responsibility
and
jurisdiction for management of the radio frequency spectrum, to develop,
by
October 20, 2000, a plan to select spectrum for third generation wireless
systems, and to issue, by November 15, 2000, an interim report on the
current
spectrum uses and potential for reallocation or sharing of the bands
identified
at WRC-2000 that could be used for third generation wireless systems,
in order
that the FCC can identify, in coordination with the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration, spectrum by July 2001, and auction
licenses to
competing applicants by September 30, 2002.
2. I also direct the Secretary of Commerce to work cooperatively with
the FCC
to lead a government-industry effort, through a series of regular public
meetings or workshops, to work cooperatively with government and industry
representatives, and others in the private sector, to develop recommendations
and plans for identifying spectrum for third generation wireless systems
consistent with the WRC-2000 agreements, which may be implemented by
the Federal
Government.
3. I direct the Secretaries of Defense, the Treasury, Transportation,
and the
heads of any other executive department or agency that is currently
authorized
to use spectrum identified at WRC-2000 for third generation wireless
services,
to participate and cooperate in the activities of the government-industry
group.
4. I direct the Secretary of State to participate and cooperate in the
activities of the government-industry group, and to coordinate and
present the
evolving views of the United States Government to foreign governments
and
international bodies.
Furthermore, I strongly encourage the FCC to participate in the
government-industry outreach efforts and to initiate a rule-making
proceeding to
identify spectrum for third generation wireless services that will
be
coordinated with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and
Information during the formulation and decisionmaking process with
the goal of
completing that process by July 2001, so that such spectrum can be
auctioned to
competing applicants for licenses by September 30, 2002.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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