Spectrum Management
Protecting a Vital, Limited Resource
Overview
Many Federal agencies use radio frequency spectrum to perform vital operations. NTIA manages the Federal government's use of spectrum, ensuring that America's domestic and international spectrum needs are met while making efficient use of this limited resource. NTIA carries out this responsibility with assistance and advice from the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee and by:
- establishing and issuing policy regarding allocations and regulations governing the Federal spectrum use;
- developing plans for the peacetime and wartime use of the spectrum;
- preparing for, participating in, and implementing the results of international radio conferences;
- assigning frequencies;
- maintaining spectrum use databases;
- reviewing Federal agencies' new telecommunications systems and certifying that spectrum will be available;
- providing the technical engineering expertise needed to perform specific spectrum resources assessments and automated computer capabilities needed to carry out these investigations;
- participating in all aspects of the Federal government's communications related emergency readiness activities; and
- participating in Federal government telecommunications and automated information systems security activities.
Related content
NTIA’s 2021 Spectrum Policy Symposium Showcases Cooperation Among Key Decision-Makers
October 4, 2021
NTIA’s 2021 Spectrum Policy Symposium brought together key policymakers and industry experts to explore how a “whole of government” approach to spectrum policy can address U.S. priorities for 21st century global leadership.
The event featured as keynote speakers U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike F. Doyle Jr. (D-Pa.), and Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Each of them highlighted the importance of spectrum to the economy, U.S. technological leadership, innovation, and federal government missions.
In addition, the event’s afternoon sessions featured a preview of the 2022 International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies (ISART), which NTIA’s Boulder, Colorado-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) plans to convene in the spring of next year. During the preview, ITS issued a call for papers to further the development of spectrum-sharing assessments through analyses driven by data, science and technology.
Throughout the keynotes and the accompanying panel discussions, policymakers and experts underlined the key themes of cooperation, technological innovation, and engineering-driven spectrum management solutions to spur America’s economic and infrastructure growth.
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