FSF Calls for Fast Action on Mid-Band in National Spectrum Strategy

On April 17, the Free State Foundation filed public comments with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the agency's proceeding for the Development of a National Spectrum Strategy. As FSF's comments observe, there is a lack of available spectrum that is needed for delivering next-generation wireless services in the years ahead. To maintain of U.S. global leadership on 5G makes it imperative that the spectrum pipeline be replenished. The federal government is the primary occupier and user of a significant amount of spectrum, particularly in the mid-band. And while spectrum is needed for continued support of national security, law enforcement, and other governmental functions, much of the government-occupied is going underutilized. Hopefully, the NTIA's development and implementation of a National Spectrum Strategy will be swiftly developed and implemented to make more spectrum available for commercial services and help ensure that its value and use are maximized.

To this end, two policy imperatives are set forth in the initial paragraph of FSF's comments are set forth in the initial paragraph: 

The agency should adopt and implement its proposal to identify at least 1,500 MHz of spectrum for study – and, importantly, it should make determined efforts to reallocate at least 1,500 MHz of spectrum for more commercial use. And while the maintaining the availability of sufficient unlicensed spectrum should remain an important objective, the National Spectrum Strategy's short-term priority should be accomplishing the repurposing of more mid-band spectrum for exclusive licensed use, starting with the 3.1-3.45 GHz band. 

FSF's comments recommend that low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum be identified and reallocated for commercial wireless use. Additionally, FSF's comments recognize that dedicating spectrum for unlicensed use such as Wi-Fi also can yield considerable value and use. For more details, FSF's comments are available online. 

 

The NTIA's ongoing efforts to develop and implement a National Spectrum Strategy was a subject of a keynote address at #FSFConf15 on March 28 of this year by Scott Blake Harris, Senior Spectrum Advisor at the NTIA. Video of Mr. Blake's keynote is available online. 

A National Spectrum Strategy has been long awaited. Indeed, back in January 2019, FSF filed comments with the NTIA, under the prior administration, for the agency's earlier proceeding to develop a sustainable national spectrum strategy. That earlier proceeding never succeeded in accomplishing its task. Hopefully, the current administration and proceeding at the NTIA will continue apace and have an implementation plan ready by the summer of this year. We wish Mr. Harris and the agency success in promptly assembling and putting into action a National Spectrum Strategy that will boost spectrum use and efficiency and put the U.S. solidly out in front on 5G and, one day, 6G.