NTIA Issues Report Setting Path to Make Prime Spectrum Available

March 27, 2012 by NTIA

In today’s wireless world, the demand for spectrum from consumers, businesses, and federal users continues to grow at a rapid rate. In response to this growing demand, in June 2010, President Obama directed the Department of Commerce, working through NTIA, to collaborate with the FCC to make available an additional 500 megahertz of spectrum over the next decade for commercial wireless broadband use.

Today, NTIA took the next step towards meeting President Obama’s goal by announcing that the 1755-1850 megahertz band --95 megahertz of prime spectrum -- could be repurposed for wireless broadband use. Given the growing demand for spectrum by both industry and the federal agencies, it is increasingly difficult to find desirable spectrum that can be vacated by federal users as well as spectrum in which to relocate these federal users. Because of these challenges, including the scarcity of spectrum, the complexity of federal operations, and the time and cost of relocating federal users, NTIA is proposing a new path forward for spectrum repurposing that relies on a combination of relocating federal users and sharing spectrum between federal agencies and commercial users.

We look forward to engaging with industry and federal stakeholders through the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee to find ways of working together through spectrum sharing or other means to reduce the time and expense of repurposing the 1755-1850 MHz band. By making more spectrum available, we can help to fuel innovation and preserve America’s technological leadership while protecting vital government missions.

For more information view the report: An Assessment of the Viability of Accommodating Wireless Broadband in the 1755-1850 MHz Band

Resources: