Bush
Administration Forges Landmark Plan
for Spectrum Allocation
Spectrum Made Available for Advanced Wireless Services
The
U.S. Department of Commerce, in a plan released today, has concluded
that 90 MHz of radio spectrum can be made available in the future
for advanced wireless (third generation or "3G") Telecommunications
services to meet the anticipated demand for new wireless services.
"By
making additional spectrum available to consumers, the Bush Administration
is moving forward decisively on its commitment to promote the technology
needs of all Americans and to ensure the nation's economic prosperity,"
Commerce Secretary Don Evans said in releasing the plan. "This
plan promotes our country's economic growth while protecting national
security and public safety," Evans said.
Today's
findings represent a milestone in the Bush Administration's efforts
to develop a sound spectrum management policy that will result in
lasting benefits to American consumers. One of the challenges in developing
the plan was allocating some of the spectrum currently used by the
U.S. Department of Defense without jeopardizing its critical mission
of national security.
Additional
radio spectrum is needed to accommodate the increasing demand for
advanced wireless services in the U.S. Wireless minutes are growing
by 75 percent every year, and tens of millions of new cell phone users
are expected to enter the market in the next several years. Spectrum
is key to improving the quality of voice and data services; to enhancing
the delivery of health services, (e.g., through wireless insulin monitors);
and to increasing productivity through applications such as wireless
credit processing and inventory management.
The
plan, known as the "3G Viability Assessment," builds upon
earlier Bush Administration initiatives, including the Spectrum Summit
in April, hosted by the Department's National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), and the authorization in February
of ultrawideband (UWB), a promising new technology that could spur
the development of innovative new devices that efficiently use the
radio frequency spectrum. Evans also directed NTIA to continue working
closely with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make more
spectrum available by the end of the decade to meet the wireless voice
and data communications needs of American consumers beyond 2010. In
addition, Evans instructed NTIA to continue its efforts to identify
more unlicensed spectrum for broadband and other innovative high-technology
purposes.
The
Viability Assessment is the result of research and analysis conducted
by NTIA, the FCC, the Defense Department, and other Executive Branch
agencies, which focused on whether the 1710-1770 MHz and 2110-2170
MHz bands could be reallocated for third generation (3G) services.
NTIA
said the 90 MHz available for 3G services would be made up of 45 MHz
from the 1710-1755 MHz band now used exclusively by federal government
agencies, including the Department of Defense, and 45 MHz from the
2110-2170 MHz band occupied by non-government users. The 1755-1770
MHz band, also part of the assessment, was concluded not to be a viable
home for 3G due to difficulties in sharing with or relocating the
incumbent defense systems.
Availability
of the identified spectrum bands will be accomplished after the bands
are substantially cleared of existing users. The Defense Department
will relocate certain parts of its systems to other bands no later
than December 2008. The cost of relocation by the federal government
users will be paid by the private sector entities receiving the reallocated
spectrum.
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see also: Commerce
Department Asks Congress To Create Spectrum Relocation Fund For Federal
Agencies Whose Spectrum Is Reallocated To Commercial Use