The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released two reports proposing innovative ways to better manage the nation’s crowded airwaves for the 21^st Century including the establishment of an innovation test-bed for increased sharing between federal and non-federal spectrum users.

“Last year, President Bush challenged the Department of Commerce and the other federal agencies to develop a U.S. spectrum policy for the 21^st Century,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce Michael D. Gallagher.  “The reports released today answer that challenge by making a comprehensive set of recommendations that will ensure our spectrum policies keep pace with powerful new technologies that benefit and protect every American,” said Gallagher.

One of the 24 recommendations included in the reports is the establishment of a spectrum test-bed for innovative new technologies that will enable increased sharing between federal and non-federal users.  The report recommends that the FCC and the NTIA should each identify approximately 10 MHz of spectrum to be made available for this program.

“This recommendation for the NTIA and the FCC to identify spectrum to be assigned both to federal and to non-federal users at the same time will drive future innovation and the expansion of sharing to the benefit of both government and commercial users,” said Gallagher.  

Launched in June, 2003, the President’s spectrum initiative required the Commerce Department to develop a U.S. spectrum policy for the 21^st century that will foster economic growth; ensure national and homeland security; maintain America’s global leadership in communications technology; and satisfy other vital U.S. needs.  The reports are available on NTIA’s Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov.

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