Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Charles Cooper

An Update on Implementing the National Spectrum Strategy

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:45:25 +0000

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is hard at work implementing the National Spectrum Strategy. First up: initiating technical studies of spectrum bands—including a process to streamline funding to federal agencies—and kicking off the exploration and demonstration of advanced spectrum management techniques including Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). On the band studies, NTIA is streamlining the pipeline plan process so that federal agencies can obtain funding from the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF)—what is commonly referred to as “pipeline” funding—for their studies. NTIA is targeting October for distribution of the pipeline funds to the agencies, which would trigger a two-year countdown to complete the band studies and then issue reports. Regarding our other priority—DSS—the Department of Defense held a public meeting April 8 to begin a process of demonstrating potential DSS solutions that could enable sharing in the Lower 3 GHz band. Although this effort hopefully will inform spectrum sharing in the future for this band and others, it is separate and apart from the Lower 3 GHz band study discussed above. NTIA looks forward to co-leading this effort with DoD and collaborating with industry, academia, and other stakeholders to advance DSS.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2024/update-implementing-national-spectrum-strategy

Teaser:

NTIA is hard at work implementing the National Spectrum Strategy

Source:

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Federal Agency

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Level of Government

Federal

Spectrum

What A New Era of Spectrum Coordination Will Look Like

dclay@benton.org — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:56:20 +0000

The recent update of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) memorializes a shared commitment between the two agencies to renew a partnership critical to jointly managing the nation’s spectrum resources. Now the work begins to translate this agreement into consistent, meaningful practice. Given the scope of the document, there is quite a lot for the FCC and NTIA to do to fulfill the potential of the MOU. The MOU promotes:

Evidence-based policy-making;
More frequent and more effective communication;
Long-range planning and sharing of information to coordinate proposals well in advance; and
Development of a common approach for assessment and technical analysis of potential radio frequency interference issues.

More information on this agency partnership can be found here.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2022/ntia-fcc-mou-what-new-era-spectrum-coordination-w…

Teaser:

The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) ink a new partnership for spectrum policy alignment.

Source:

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Wed, 09/14/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/13/2022

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Publish Date:

Tue, 09/13/2022

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Government & Communications

NTIA’s 2021 Spectrum Policy Symposium Showcases Cooperation Among Key Decision-Makers

Grace Tepper — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:13:21 +0000

The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA)’s 2021 Spectrum Policy Symposium brought together key policymakers and industry experts to explore how a “whole of government” approach to spectrum policy can address US priorities for 21st-century global leadership. Each keynote speaker highlighted the importance of spectrum to the economy, US technological leadership, innovation, and federal government missions. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the importance of having “a national spectrum strategy that involves all major governmental stakeholders” to channel and support a whole-nation approach to spectrum policy. Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel highlighted how a strong FCC-NTIA partnership can support broad US priorities, including addressing the digital divide. She noted the current example of cooperation among NTIA, the FCC, and the US Department of Defense to auction the 3.45 GHz band in October 2021. In his remarks, House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) emphasized that Congress understands the importance of spectrum in Americans’ everyday lives. Doyle echoed the need for greater partnerships and collaboration to identify spectrum for 5G, strongly supporting NTIA’s role as the voice of the executive branch agencies. He suggested updating a Memorandum of Understanding between NTIA and the FCC on spectrum policy matters and potential changes to make more flexible use of the Spectrum Relocation Fund as two areas that could be helpful in improving spectrum access decisions.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2021/ntia-s-2021-spectrum-policy-symposium-showcases-c…

Teaser:

The NTIA's 2021 Spectrum Policy Symposium brought together policymakers and experts to explore a “whole of government” approach to spectrum policy.

Source:

National Telecommunication and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Tue, 10/05/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 10/4/2021

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Publish Date:

Mon, 10/04/2021

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Plan to Modernize and Automate the Infrastructure of NTIA Related to Managing Federal Spectrum Use

benton — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:55:13 +0000

Section 9203 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 21) calls for the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit a report to Congress containing a plan for the modernization and automation of the NTIA infrastructure relating to managing federal spectrum use by covered agencies, to more efficiently manage such use. This provides the modernization plan and addresses the topics called out in the NDAA 21. This modernization report creates the necessary foundation for future enhancements to current legacy systems and a foundation to support future advanced technological capabilities.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_spectrum_it_mod_report_to_…

Teaser:

This report plans time-phased solutions to address problems with outdated legacy systems

Source:

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Mon, 09/27/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/24/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Fri, 09/24/2021

Coverage Type:

Public Notice

Spectrum

The Spectrum Needs of US Space-Based Operations: An Inventory of Current and Projected Uses

Grace Tepper — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:50:43 +0000

A first-of-its-kind report documenting the wide array of current and projected spectrum uses by space-based systems. The report addresses a wide range of government and commercial space-based operations and the value they provide to the economy and our quality of life, both in the United States and globally. All of these operations depend on a key public resource–radiofrequency spectrum–both for controlling space-based systems and for relaying communications and data to and from Earth. To help policymakers, regulators and the general public understand the broad scope of space-based systems and their spectrum needs, the report offers an extensive and detailed appendix describing individual spectrum bands, allocations to space-based services, and illustrative examples of the systems using those bands.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.doc.gov/report/2021/spectrum-needs-us-space-based-operations-in…

Teaser:

The NTIA releases its first-of-its-kind report "The Spectrum Needs of US Space-Based Operations: An Inventory of Current and Projected Uses."

Source:

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Mon, 07/12/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/9/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Fri, 07/09/2021

Coverage Type:

Research

Government & Communications

Internet/Broadband

Research

Satellite

Spectrum Sharing: An Emerging Success

benton — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:06:02 +0000

Spectrum sharing is working, and we now have a larger toolbox of techniques to employ as we move toward repurposing the 3450-3550 MHz band — as well as exploring potential repurposing within 3100-3450 MHz. The current auction of Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service band (CBRS) could not have happened without spectrum sharing in coastal areas where military mobile radars operate. NTIA research resulted in the creation of “dynamic protection areas” in which commercial equipment can sense the presence of federal radar signals. A Spectrum Access System (SAS) responds by altering the permitted commercial operations (curbing power, switching to different channels, etc.) to head off interference. The result is a seamless, automated, and flexible sharing system that both protects the military radars and makes nationwide CBRS possible.

Benton Content:

https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2020/spectrum-sharing-emerging-success

Teaser:

A larger toolbox of techniques

Source:

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Author:

Charles Cooper

Send date:

Wed, 09/02/2020

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/1/2020