Summary

GAO reviewed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rule on promoting efficient use of spectrum through elimination of barriers to the development of secondary markets. GAO found that (1) the rule promotes wider use of spectrum leasing arrangements by facilitating the ability of licenses in FCC's Wireless Radio Services that hold "exclusive" authority to lease some or all of their spectrum usage rights to third parties for any amount of spectrum and in any geographic are encompassed by the license, for any period of time within the term of the license;(2) the rule also adopts streamlined approval procedures for license assignments and transfers of control in these Wireless Radio Services; and (3) FCC complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.