Part I: 1710-1755 MHz Band (AWS-1)
In September 2006, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concluded the first auction of licenses for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-1) in the 1710-1755 MHz band paired with the 2110-2155 MHz band. In August 2008, the FCC held a second auction of licenses that received no winning bids in the first auction. The combined AWS-1 auctions for the 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz bands raised over $13.7 billion in net winning bids. Auction proceeds attributable to federal frequencies were deposited in the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) in accordance with the CSEA.
In February 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), submitted a report to Congress detailing a transfer of $1.008 billion from the SRF to 12 federal agencies to relocate their radio communications systems from the 1710-1755 MHz band. OMB transferred this amount to the agencies in March 2007. Between 2007 and 2012, OMB, consistent with the provisions of the CSEA, in consultation with NTIA, and after Congressional notification, made several additional transfers from the SRF to agencies to cover additional unanticipated relocation expenses.
All 12 federal agencies that received SRF funds have reported that they have ceased operations of their systems in the 1710-1755 MHz band, where required to do so.1 To date, 11 agencies have completed their relocation efforts and achieved comparable capability by relocating to new frequency assignments or by utilizing alternative technologies;2 the remaining agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), is delayed beyond its previously planned date for achieving comparable capability. As required by the CSEA, NTIA has notified the FCC of these results. The reasons for the delay include contract close-out issues and impacts due to COVID-19 resulting in staffing shortages for the DOE. The DOE stated it continues to spend SRF funds and now expects to complete the relocation effort and achieve comparable capability in 2025. NTIA will notify the FCC when the DOE has completed the relocation effort and achieved comparable capability.
The total amount transferred from the SRF to the agencies was $1.55 billion. For the 12-month period ending December 2023, outlays for the remaining eligible federal agency totaled approximately $2.1 million, bringing the total cumulative outlays to $1.38 billion. To date, agencies have returned excess relocation funds totaling approximately $157 million, while DOE will continue to expend SRF funds until it has established comparable capability.3
The following tables detail the total actual costs incurred (cumulative outlays) on a system-by-system basis for each department, agency, or bureau within the DOE since they are the only remaining agency with activity to report during this reporting period.
1710 – 1755 MHz Band Agency Status of Funds
Department of Energy (DOE)
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
| System Number | System Name | Estimated Relocation Timeframe (Months) | Status4 | Estimated Relocation Cost5 | Total Transferred From the SRF | Intra-Agency Adjustments6 | Adjusted Total | Cumulative Outlays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OST - Remote Keying System, Replacement | 24 | Completed | $180,000 | $180,000 | -$180,0007 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 | NL - Portable Microwave, System and Laser Tracking Microwave | 24 | Completed | $691,000 | $691,000 | -$0 | $691,000 | $691,000 |
| 3 | Pantex Admin System | 24 | Completed | $870,000 | $870,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,370,000 | $2,370,000 |
| 4a | SNL - Laser Tracking Microwave | 24 | Completed | $344,500 | $344,500 | $0 | $344,500 | $344,500 |
| 4b | SNL - Telecommand Link | 24 | Completed | $384,500 | $384,500 | $0 | $384,500 | $384,500 |
| 5 | OST - Microwave Link | 24 | Completed | $385,000 | $385,000 | $360,000 | $745,000 | $745,000 |
| 6 | SNL - Remote Control Development Link - Robotics Vehicle | 24 | Completed | $240,000 | $240,000 | $0 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| 7 | LANL – Robotic Vehicle (Video/Audio) | 24 | Completed | $360,000 | $360,000 | -$277,402 | $82,598 | $82,598 |
| 8 | NSO - YMP Microwave System | 24 | Completed | $840,000 | $840,000 | -$763,360 | $76,640 | $76,640 |
| 9 | NSO - NV Teleoperated System | 24 | Completed | $435,000 | $435,000 | -$236,591 | $198,409 | $198,409 |
| 10 | YMP Seismic Link (Shoshone Mtn and Echo Peak, NV) | 24 | Completed | $900,000 | $900,000 | $214,213 | $1,114,213 | $1,114,213 |
| 11 | NSO - Helicopter Event Video | 24 | Completed | $970,000 | $970,000 | $100,000 | $1,070,000 | $1,070,000 |
| 12 | NSO - Backbone Microwave Link (Nevada Test Site and Angel Peak) | 24 | Completed | $770,000 | $770,000 | $98,429 | $868,429 | $868,429 |
| 13 | NSO - YMP Seismic Link (Yucca Mtn and Sober Peak, NV) | 24 | Completed | $830,000 | $830,000 | $650,000 | $1,480,000 | $1,480,000 |
| 14 | LLNL - Research Microwave between Tracy Airport and LLNL | 24 | Completed | $360,000 | $360,000 | $0 | $360,000 | $360,000 |
| 15 | LLNL - Water System Microwave Link (Livermore to Mocho) | 24 | Completed | $890,000 | $890,000 | -$15,289 | $874,711 | $874,711 |
| 16 | NNSA Inflation Indexed Reserve | 24 | Completed | $1,450,000 | $1,450,000 | $1,450,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $10,900,000 | $10,900,000 | $0 | $10,900,000 | $10,622,5988 |
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
| System Number | System Name | Estimated Relocation Timeframe (Months) | Status9 | Estimated Relocation Cost10 | Total Transferred From the SRF | Intra-Agency Adjustments11 | Adjusted Total | Cumulative Outlays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2N | 36 | Completed | $4,896,239 | $4,896,239 | $0 | $4,896,239 | $4,252,435 |
| 2 | 4A | 48 | Completed | $1,147,111 | $1,147,111 | $0 | $1,147,111 | $820,467 |
| 3 | 4D | 60 | Completed | $1,727,645 | $1,727,645 | $500,000 | $2,227,645 | $2,051,667 |
| 4 | D | 48 | Completed | $2,815,160 | $2,815,160 | $0 | $2,815,160 | $2,215,222 |
| 5 | H | 48 | Completed | $767,501 | $767,501 | $0 | $767,501 | $552,638 |
| 6 | I | 72 | Completed | $8,913,238 | $8,913,238 | -$500,000 | $8,913,238 | $7,151,635 |
| 7 | N | 24 | Completed | $8,589,111 | $8,589,111 | $83,506 | $8,672,617 | $8,415,391 |
| 8 | PND AC00 | 48 | Completed | $4,712,537 | $4,712,537 | $250,720 | $4,963,257 | $3,004,466 |
| 9 | PND D00 | 48 | Completed | $1,975,385 | $1,975,385 | -$250,720 | $1,724,665 | $1,509,882 |
| 10 | PND XC00 | 36 | Completed | $5,063,823 | $5,063,823 | $1,440,000 | $6,503,823 | $4,168,537 |
| 11 | PND YC00 | 24 | Completed | $6,441,748 | $6,441,748 | -$1,440,000 | $5,001,748 | $4,995,674 |
| 12 | T | 12 | Completed | $288,198 | $288,198 | -$83,506 | $204,692 | $204,692 |
| 13 | U | 60 | Completed | $915,458 | $915,458 | -$10,000 | $915,458 | $606,087 |
| 14 | USA12 | 72 | Completed | $374,245 | $374,245 | $10,000 | $374,245 | $388,721 |
| Total | $48,627,399 | $48,627,399 | $0 | $48,627,399 | $40,337,514 |
Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA)
| System Number | System Name | Estimated Relocation Timeframe (Months) | Status13 | Estimated Relocation Cost14 | Total Transferred From the SRF | Intra-Agency Adjustments | Adjusted Total | Cumulative Outlays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwestern15 | 24 | On Time | $8,091,360 | $46,821,36016 17 18 | $0 | $46,821,360 | $41,963,432 |
| Total | $8,091,360 | $46,821,36016 17 18 | $0 | $46,821,360 | $41,963,432 |
Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)
| System Number | System Name | Estimated Relocation Timeframe (Months) | Status19 | Estimated Relocation Cost20 | Total Transferred From the SRF | Intra-Agency Adjustments21 | Adjusted Total | Cumulative Outlays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra-Nevada Region (SNR) | 30 | On Time | $9,846,000 | $9,846,000 | $13,148,453 | $22,994,453 | $22,985,197 |
| 2 | Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) | 28 | Completed | $5,971,200 | $5,971,200 | $1,511,875 | $7,483,075 | $7,482,379 |
| 3 | Desert Southwest Region (DSW) | 30 | Completed | $7,320,000 | $7,320,000 | $5,577,510 | $12,087,510 | $12,338,007 |
| 4 | Upper Great Plains - Montana (UGP-PT) | 3622 | On Time | $22,275,000 | $22,275,000 | $1,751 | $22,276,751 | $22,275,451 |
| 5 | Upper Great Plains - North Dakota (UGP-ND) | 3622 | On Time | $21,467,000 | $21,467,000 | -$5,949,443 | $15,517,557 | $15,517,557 |
| 6 | Upper Great Plains - South Dakota (UGP-SD) | 3622 | On Time | $26,688,000 | $26,688,000 | -$16,072,522 | $10,615,478 | $10,616,778 |
| AD22 | Corporate Overhead and Reserve | N/A | On Time | $14,635,000 | $10,635,000 | $1,782,376 | $12,417,376 | $0 |
| Total | $108,202,200 | $104,202,20023 | $0 | $104,202,200 | $91,215,369 |
DOE Headquarters
| System Number | System Name | Estimated Relocation Timeframe (Months) | Status (On Time) | Estimated Relocation Cost24 | Total Transferred From SRF | Intra-Agency Adjustments | Adjusted Total | Cumulative Outlays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | DOE Headquarters | 72 | Completed25 | $1,000,000 | $1,650,00026 | $0 | $1,650,000 | $1,650,000 |
| Total | $1,000,000 | $1,650,00025 | $0 | $1,650,000 | $1,650,000 |
1 The exceptions are specified areas around federal facilities located at Yuma, Arizona and Cherry Point, North Carolina, which are protected indefinitely and for which AWS-1 licensees shall be required to coordinate any operations that could permit mobile, fixed, and portable stations to operate. See 47 C.F.R. § 27.1134.
2 In addition, bureaus within the DOE (National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and DOE Headquarters)) stated that they have completed relocation efforts and achieved comparable capability of their systems. The notification to the FCC will be submitted once all bureaus within DOE have informed NTIA that they have completed relocation efforts and reached comparable capability.
3 Agencies/bureaus that have returned or plan to return funds to the SRF are: the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the DHS (Customs and Border Protection), the DOE (Bonneville Power Administration and National Nuclear Security Administration), the Department of Interior (Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service), the Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), the Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of the Treasury.
4 DOE/NNSA reported it has completed the relocation effort and reached comparable capability.
5 Pre-relocation estimates as indicated in the February 2007 OMB Report to Congress.
6 Column denotes agencies have transferred funds between systems due to either higher or lower than estimated costs to relocate and this action does not affect the total amount received from the Spectrum Relocation Fund.
7 DOE/NNSA indicated the system has been deleted and is no longer operating in the 1710-1755 MHz band. The funds shown have been transferred to System 5.
8 DOE/NNSA previously reported in error that NNSA had a zero balance. They are now reporting that NNSA has an excess of $277,402 which will be returned to the SRF. This error is specific to system #7. The Cumulative Outlay for System 7 has not been corrected in this report, so as a result, the correct total Cumulative Outlay is $10,622,598 rather than $10,900,000 as reflected.
9 DOE/BPA reported it has completed the relocation effort and reached comparable capability.
10 Pre-relocation estimates as indicated in the February 2007 Office of Management and Budget Report to Congress.
11 Column denotes agencies have transferred funds between systems due to either higher or lower than estimated costs to relocate and this action does not affect the total amount received from the Spectrum Relocation Fund.
12 This system consists of radios that will be used across the remaining 13 systems during catastrophic emergency conditions where timely restoration of mission critical telecommunication traffic is of the utmost importance. The estimated relocation timeframe is not expected to affect commercial access to the band, since this system operates in a backup capacity only.
13 DOE/SWPA indicated this system has been relocated from the 1710-1755 MHz band, although funds may continue to be used to implement the transition.
14 Pre-relocation estimates as indicated in the February 2007 Office of Management and Budget Report to Congress.
15 The March 2008 First Annual Progress Report showed an additional system AD (Corporate Overhead and Reserve). This is now combined with System 1 (Southwestern) and the total amount paid from the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) remains the same.
16 As indicated in the May 12, 2009 Congressional Notification from OMB, a subsequent transfer of $17,730,000 from the SRF was made to DOE/SWPA in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA).
17 As indicated in the April 2, 2012 OMB Congressional Notification, OMB made a subsequent transfer of $17,000,000 from the SRF to DOE/SWPA in accordance with the provisions of the CSEA.
18 On 7/13/23 DOE requested OMB to allow $4,000,000 be repurposed from Western Area Power Administration to SWPA. OMB approved the necessary transfers on 8/30/2023. As a result of this action the total transfer from the SRF is revised to $46,821,360.
19 DOE/WAPA indicated these systems have been relocated from the 1710-1755 MHz band, although funds may continue to be used to implement the transition.
20 Pre-relocation estimates as indicated in the February 2007 Office of Management and Budget Report to Congress.
21 Agencies indicate they are transferring funds between systems due to either higher or lower than estimated costs to relocate and this action does not affect the total amount received from the Spectrum Relocation Fund.
22 DOE/WAPA indicated the System AD is not a radio system but rather an administrative designator to capture the overhead expenditures associated with all systems and funds kept in reserve for inflation, collocation coordination, and planning. Actual costs and associated funding for overhead are distributed out to the system at the end of each fiscal year.
23 On July 13, 2023, DOE requested OMB to allow $4,000,000 to be repurposed from Western Area Power Administration to SWPA. OMB approved the necessary transfers on August 30, 2023. As a result of this action the total transfer from the SRF is revised to $104,202.200.
24 Pre-relocation estimates as indicated in the February 2007 Office of Management and Budget Report (OMB) Report to Congress.
25 DOE reported DOE Headquarters has completed the relocation effort and reached comparable capability
26 As indicated in the May 12, 2009 OMB Congressional Notification, OMB made a subsequent transfer of $650,000 from the Spectrum Relocation Fund to DOE Headquarters in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act.