Developing a National Spectrum Strategy
U.S. leadership in next-generation technologies and services requires greater spectrum access for both the private and public sectors. To continue our Nation’s economic growth, to maintain and improve our global competitiveness, and to support critical public services and missions, we must make spectrum available for innovative new uses and to meet growing demand. This Strategy considers such a “spectrum pipeline” to encompass spectrum bands that are in various stages of consideration for repurposing (allowing new or additional uses through relocation and/or sharing) to satisfy non-Federal and Federal needs.1
The long-term spectrum planning process discussed in Pillar Two will strategically and systematically evaluate and respond to projected private sector and public sector spectrum requirements well into the future. But we must also take immediate action to meet existing and reasonably anticipated near- and mid-term spectrum needs.
To that end, this Strategy identifies five spectrum bands totaling 2,786 megahertz of spectrum for in-depth, near-term study to determine suitability for potential repurposing to address the nation’s ever-evolving needs. These spectrum bands are a mix of Federal and shared Federal/non-Federal bands—with an emphasis on mid-band frequencies—that will be studied for a variety of uses, including terrestrial wireless broadband, innovative space services, and unmanned aviation and other autonomous vehicle operations.
Pillar One Strategic Objectives
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Strategic Objective 1
Ensure sufficient spectrum access to support Federal agency missions now and into the future.
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Strategic Objective 2
Ensure spectrum resources are available to support private sector innovation now and into the future.
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Strategic Objective 3
Maintain the spectrum pipeline by applying guiding principles and leading program management practices to identify additional bands for study.
1 The National Spectrum Strategy’s effort to create new sharing opportunities pertains to bands with Federal allocations that are being newly considered for more intensive Federal or non-Federal use. It will not examine bands that were previously made available for non-Federal use by the FCC, nor will it affect the rights of existing non-Federal users or otherwise constitute a modification of an existing license under 47 U.S.C. § 316 of the Communications Act.