Development of a National Spectrum Strategy

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment on identifying airwaves for more intensive use and innovative new uses by both the private sector and federal agencies. NTIA seeks input on creating a spectrum pipeline for the next decade of frequencies that could be studied for new or additional uses. The agency’s goal is to identify at least 1,500 megahertz of spectrum to study for potential repurposing—perhaps the most ambitious study goal for NTIA to date—to meet future requirements for non-federal and federal users. Developing a strategy to increase access to this finite resource will help ensure continued US leadership in emerging technologies, advance connectivity and competition, create jobs and produce improvements to overall quality of life. The request for comment seeks input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including private industry academia, civil society and the public sector, on three proposed pillars of the National Spectrum Strategy.

1. Developing a spectrum pipeline: What are the requirements such a pipeline needs to address? Which spectrum bands may be best suited for particular purposes, what access approaches should we consider, and what are the benefits and tradeoffs of each band or approach?
2. Long-term spectrum planning: What should a long-term planning process entail?  Who are the key stakeholders and what are the key inputs? How can the necessary collaboration best be implemented and executed?
3. Expanding spectrum capacity through technology: What innovations on spectrum management models are coming? What spectrum management capabilities/tools would enable more robust and quicker implementation of spectrum sharing?

[Parties should file their comments no later than April 17, 2023. Docket number NTIA– 2023–0003]