500 MHz Initiative

The U.S. Defense Department (DoD) took an important step forward today in support of the Administration’s plans to make additional spectrum available for wireless broadband, issuing a spectrum strategy document.  We applaud DoD’s efforts and look forward to continued collaboration with DoD and other federal agencies as we explore new and innovative approaches to meet the exploding demand for spectrum.

Through its Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy, DoD recognizes that meeting the military’s mission requirements amidst the growing commercial and consumer demand will require cooperation, compatibility, and flexibility.  Indeed, a key focus of its plan is to develop spectrum-dependent systems that are efficient, flexible, and adaptable in their use of the spectrum.

Recognizing the important role spectrum plays in continued innovation, job creation, and economic growth, the Administration is moving aggressively to enhance spectrum efficiency and enable access to more spectrum for consumer services and applications.  The long-term spectrum needs for government agencies and industry alike will be met primarily through sharing, and NTIA is asking for a top-to-bottom commitment from all stakeholders to make it happen.

Joint statement from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on the NTIA and FCC’s Biannual Spectrum Planning meeting on Friday, January 3^rd to discuss their agencies’ complementary roles with respect to commercial and Federal use of spectrum, including efforts to make available 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband:             

In this letter, NTIA responds to the AWS-3 NPRM for purposes of: (1) supplementing the information NTIA submitted to the FCC in July and April 2013 prior to adoption of the NPRM; (2) proposing specific changes to the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations for the 2025-2110 MHz band that are necessary to implement the alternative proposal of the Department of Defense (DoD) to relocate key operations from the 1755-1780 MHz band; and (3) addressing other important issues raised in the NPRM.