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NTIA Announces New Members for Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2014
News Media Contact
Juliana Gruenwald

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced the appointment of experts from the private and nonprofit sectors to serve on the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC), which provides advice and expertise on a wide-range of spectrum policy and technical issues.

Committee members, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for two-year terms, will provide the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information with advice and recommendations aimed at strengthening the U.S. global leadership role in wireless technology services and innovation while supporting the country’s homeland security, national defense, and other critical government missions.

The committee will be co-chaired by Larry Alder, director of access strategy at Google, and Mark Gibson, senior director of business development at Comsearch. Both Adler and Gibson previously served on CSMAC and are among the 17 returning members to the 28-member panel.

"We are fortunate to have assembled such a talented group of professionals who are well versed in spectrum issues to help continue CSMAC's important work," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. "With CSMAC's help, NTIA has been able to pave the way for two key federal spectrum bands to be auctioned to commercial wireless providers. I am looking forward to CSMAC's continued guidance as we work to make additional spectrum available for commercial wireless use."

NTIA manages the federal use of radio spectrum and is working to identify additional spectrum for commercial use. Last year, CSMAC developed recommendations, with the help of five working groups, on how to facilitate the transition of as much as 110 megahertz of spectrum in the 1695–1710 MHz and 1755–1850 MHz bands from federal use to commercial wireless use. Those bands are scheduled to be auctioned by the FCC this fall.

Going forward, CSMAC will look at a number of issues including:

  • how to update enforcement tools for new, more dynamic forms of sharing;  
  • how to implement the future work described in the working group reports toward transition analysis;
  • how agencies can best quantify their actual spectrum use;
  • spectrum management via access to databases;
  • providing government greater flexibility and options through access to non-federal bands; and
  • paying for costs of spectrum sharing when there is no auction.

The Commerce Department selected members based on their technical background and expertise, as well as a diversity and balance in points of view, which is a key priority for NTIA. Members serve in a personal capacity and do not represent any organization or interest.

About NTIA

NTIA is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues.  NTIA’s programs and policy making focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. 

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