U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking public comment about the nation's airwaves technologies.
NTIA provided its National Spectrum Strategy request for comment to identify airwaves "for more intensive use and innovative new uses by both the private sector and federal agencies," according to a March 15 news release. The goal is to keep the United States on the cutting edge of technological development for those airways.
"Over the last decade, the U.S. has led the world in developing and deploying advanced technologies, many of which rely upon access to radiofrequency spectrum," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in the release. "With this announcement, we will ensure that America continues to lead into the next decade. Starting today, we are seeking input on how we can make the most efficient use of this critical resource, with the goal of identifying new spectrum bands for potential repurposing that will spur competition and innovation for years to come.”
NTIA seeks input about creating a spectrum pipeline for the coming decade of frequencies for study to find new or additional uses, according to the news release. NTIA wants to identify at least 1,500 megahertz of spectrum "for potential repurposing" non-federal and federal users' requirement, making this "perhaps the most ambitious study goal for NTIA to date."
"Developing a strategy to increase access to this finite resource will help ensure continued U.S. leadership in emerging technologies, advance connectivity and competition, create jobs and produce improvements to overall quality of life," the news release said.
"Practically every part of American life - from our digital economy to our national defense - runs on spectrum," White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar said in the news release. "To keep driving innovation and maintain our country’s wireless leadership, we have to make the best possible use of this scarce resource. Feedback and ideas from spectrum users across the United States will help us develop a National Spectrum Strategy that meets the needs of today and tomorrow."
The nation's airways "are a valuable resource" that needs "a whole-of-government plan for managing them and using them," Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in the news release.
"That is why this kind of long-term spectrum planning is so important," Rosenworcel said, according to the release. "Combining it with short-term action to restore auction authority and provide a steady pipeline of spectrum for new commercial opportunities is the best way to ensure continued United States leadership in the wireless economy."
NTIA plans to have a strategy developed by the end of the year, based in part on feedback from the comment period, the release reported. The work is being spearheaded by NTIA Senior Spectrum Advisor Scott Blake Harris.
NTIA also plans listening sessions March 30 in Washington, and April 11 at the University of Notre Dame, with both sessions expected to be available via webcast, according to the release.
