Third Interim Progress Report on the Ten-Year Spectrum Plan and Timetable

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) submits this Progress Report as called for by the Presidential Memorandum issued on June 28, 2010, directing the Secretary of Commerce, working through NTIA and in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to make available 500 megahertz of federal and nonfederal spectrum by 2020 for expanded wireless broadband use. To date, NTIA, in accordance with advice received from the Policy and Plans Steering Group (PPSG), has identified 210 megahertz of federal spectrum for potential reallocation, and continues to move forward to quickly transition the specified spectrum bands. NTIA and the FCC have also kicked off the implementation of the key spectrum-related provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, enacted in February 2012.

The key accomplishments for this reporting period include the following:

• NTIA and the FCC commenced actions to implement key spectrum provisions from the Tax Relief Act;
• NTIA published a report in March 2012 on the 1755-1850 MHz band, which recommended making 95 megahertz of prime spectrum available for commercial broadband use and identified the associated challenges to address;
• NTIA launched collaborative efforts between industry and government stakeholders to assess and recommend practical frameworks for the development of relocation, transition, and sharing arrangements and plans for 110 megahertz of federal spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz and the 1755-1850 MHz bands;
• NTIA initiated studies on the potential use of up to 195 megahertz by unlicensed
• broadband devices in the 5350-5470 MHz band and the 5850-5925 MHz band;
• The FCC commenced rulemaking proceedings to facilitate the transition of broadcasting and satellite spectrum bands to terrestrial mobile broadband services;
• The United States Government successfully advocated for an agenda item for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference to consider allocation of additional spectrum to the mobile service on a primary basis for International Mobile Telecommunications and related regulatory provisions, to facilitate the development of terrestrial mobile broadband applications; and
• NTIA and the PPSG continued reevaluation and reprioritization of other spectrum bands that offer the greatest opportunities for unleashing the innovative potential of wireless broadband and using the wireless spectrum more creatively and efficiently.