Strategic Objective 2: Develop and Document an Evidence-Based National Spectrum Decision-Making Methodology
Developing a National Spectrum Strategy
In today’s increasingly congested environment, there are no easy spectrum allocation choices. The Nation must have forward-looking, robust decision-making based on a full understanding of the operational impacts of allocation decisions, including the risks and benefits of additional spectrum access. Accordingly, the U.S. long-term spectrum planning process, consistent with President Biden’s Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, dated January 27, 2021, will rely on an evidence-based methodology.
Systematic and rigorous analysis of relevant data is required for the timely, evidence-based decision-making needed to best serve the public interest. Leveraging our Nation’s intellectual capacity, the U.S. Government will develop models that use a value-based framework to assess the potential impacts of spectrum reallocation options.
The societal value of the spectrum will be calculated based on a quantifiable estimation of the direct and indirect benefits of the different uses of the spectrum to the Nation. This approach will enable clearly articulated national priorities to drive policy decisions, based on trustworthy data, in a manner that balances both near-term and long-term costs and benefits, while also recognizing the inherent uncertainty of the future. Additionally, this methodology will help ensure that reallocation decisions continue to, and are better able to, factor in aspects such as expanding wireless service to unserved and underserved communities, federally recognized Tribes, and the Native Hawaiian community, to help address the digital divide.
"In today’s increasingly congested environment, there are no easy spectrum allocation choices."
The methodology will incorporate best practices, developed through the new collaborative framework, for conducting technical and economic analyses that are data-driven, science-based, and peer-reviewed. Best practices will include, at a minimum, greater transparency around reported findings to the extent practicable (subject to information security restrictions). Using best practices developed through collaboration between Federal and non-Federal stakeholders, and in compliance with existing law and policy, will serve to ensure better acceptance and fewer disputes over findings.
In addition, NTIA and the FCC will leverage the commitments in their MOU to foster improved and effective communication on matters that relate to the management of the Nation’s spectrum resources. As set forth in the MOU, they will engage in ongoing engineering collaborations, share information that is of a quality that complies with best engineering practices and any mutually agreed standards and procedures, and provide relevant and appropriate information in a timely manner, in consultation with Tribal Nations (as applicable). Moreover, NTIA will solicit the views of stakeholder Federal agencies in a timely fashion, providing sufficient time and procedures for agencies to present their views (and supporting technical information) to NTIA as well as written feedback on how agency views will be incorporated into the position that NTIA communicates to the FCC.