WASHINGTON – Today the Biden-Harris Administration released a National Spectrum Strategy identifying more than 2,700 megahertz of airwaves to study for innovative new uses by both the private sector and federal agencies. President Biden also released the Presidential Memorandum on Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy, which will promote a trustworthy, predictable and evidenced-based process for ensuring spectrum serves its highest and best use.
The National Spectrum Strategy will advance U.S. leadership globally while also providing Americans with the best services that advanced wireless technology offers. These technologies will improve not only consumer wireless networks but also services in vital economic sectors such as aviation, transportation, manufacturing, energy and space.
“Spectrum is a limited resource that enables the everyday and the extraordinary - from checking the weather on our phone to traveling into space. As demand for this resource increases, the U.S. will continue to lead the world in spectrum innovation, and President Biden’s bold vision for spectrum policy will provide the foundation for that leadership,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce, developed the Strategy in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the Executive Branch agencies that rely on spectrum for their missions.
What They're Saying
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The Presidential Memorandum released today establishes a clear and consistent spectrum policy and a process for resolving spectrum-related conflicts effectively.
“Spectrum is a vital national resource that plays a central, if unseen, role in American life” said Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator. “Demand for this scarce resource, especially the midband airwaves critical for next-generation wireless services, continues to grow. The National Spectrum Strategy will foster innovation in the public and private sectors, and ensure America remains the world leader in wireless technologies.”
The Strategy identifies 2,786 megahertz of spectrum across five spectrum bands for in-depth study to determine suitability for potential new uses. That is nearly double NTIA’s initial target of 1,500 megahertz.
The spectrum target includes more than 1,600 megahertz of midband spectrum – a frequency range in high demand by the wireless industry for next-generation services.
To ensure our country remains the global leader in advanced wireless technologies, the U.S. government has adopted a bold vision for spectrum policy by:
- Identifying a strong pipeline of spectrum to study for private sector use, including the lower 3 GHz and the 7-8 GHz bands.
- Improving coordination on spectrum decision-making both within the government and between the private sector and the public sector.
- Focusing on advanced technology, including the development of a dynamic spectrum sharing capability, that could help make even crowded bands available for more intensive use.
- Growing the spectrum ecosystem workforce through the development of a National Spectrum Workforce Plan.
After today's release of the National Spectrum Strategy, the Biden-Harris Administration will coordinate the development and publication of an Implementation Plan to carry out the Strategy. The NSS is envisioned as a living document, to be assessed and updated in the future as spectrum requirements and opportunities evolve.
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About the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users, advancing public safety communications, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for innovation and economic growth.