Strategic Objective 3: Pursue Spectrum Policies That Maximize Flexible Use of Spectrum, Accommodate New and Innovative Technologies, and Identify Opportunities to Expand Spectrum Access
Developing a National Spectrum Strategy
A national spectrum policy that maximizes flexible use of spectrum will foster U.S. technological innovation and global leadership, reduce barriers to expanding spectrum access (especially for historically underrepresented rural communities), stimulate industry and government research, provide access to state-of-the-art technologies and services, and allow Federal agencies to pivot when new mission requirements are contemplated. Such a policy must respect current spectrum users, ensuring incumbents are protected from harmful interference and avoiding risks to national security, public safety, scientific research, or commercial operations. Policies should facilitate opportunities for conducting research and development to address dynamic spectrum sharing possibilities, maximizing the flexible use of spectrum innovation. This could include considering legislative changes to the Spectrum Relocation Fund to make payments for costs associated with general spectrum coexistence and compatibility research and development by Federal entities across all spectrum access models.
Maximum flexibility requires the U.S. Government to pursue policies that respond to changing conditions to accommodate new and innovative technologies. This applies to both Federal and non-Federal users that can demonstrate improved efficiency or more-intensive spectrum use. The U.S. spectrum-regulating agencies, benefiting from the improved collaboration framework, will jointly oversee a periodic, targeted assessment of U.S. spectrum policy to determine if it fosters U.S. technology development, incentivizes implementation of new technologies, and maximizes benefits for all Americans, especially to increase spectrum access for rural and underrepresented groups.
Potential improvements to promote the opportunistic and spectrally efficient use of spectrum bands should be considered to expand access to new users in underrepresented communities, including small and non-traditional internet service providers, enterprises, schools, libraries, Tribal communities, and other community anchor institutions in underserved areas.