CBO Scores the Spectrum IT Modernization Act

The Spectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020 (S. 3717) would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish goals and performance measures to modernize the infrastructure of federal agencies that is related to the electromagnetic spectrum they use. Under the bill, the NTIA would report to the Congress on its own management of spectrum infrastructure. Additionally, each agency that uses federally assigned spectrum would submit a plan to the NTIA describing its plans to modernize its infrastructure to use it more effectively.

The Congressional Budget Office assumes that S. 3717 will be enacted late in fiscal year 2020. Using information from the NTIA, CBO estimates that it would cost the agency about $1 million (including the cost of three employees) to establish goals and complete the necessary report to the Congress. CBO expects that about 10 other federal agencies that use federally assigned spectrum would require one employee each at an average cost of $200,000 to prepare plans and submit them to the NTIA. In total, CBO estimates that it would cost $3 million over the 2020-2025 period to implement S. 3717; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.