Developing a Sustainable Spectrum Strategy for America's Future
| Published date | 21 December 2018 |
| Record Number | 2018-27690 |
| Court | National Telecommunications And Information Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65640-65641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27690]
[[Page 65640]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket No. 181130999-8999-01]
RIN 0660-XC044
Developing a Sustainable Spectrum Strategy for America's Future
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On behalf of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requests
comments from interested parties with regard to development of a
comprehensive, long-term national spectrum strategy. NTIA seeks broad
input from interested stakeholders, including private industry,
academia, civil society, and other experts.
DATES: Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January
22, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Written comments identified by Docket No. 181130999-8999-01
may be submitted by email to spectrum-strategy-comments@ntia.doc.gov.
Comments submitted by email should be machine-readable and should not
be copy-protected. Written comments also may be submitted by mail to
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4600, Attn:
John Alden, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Alden, Office of Spectrum
Management, National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4600,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-8046; email:
jalden@ntia.doc.gov. For media inquiries: Anne Veigle, Director, Office
of Public Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Room 4897, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-7002; email:
press@ntia.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
NTIA is requesting comments from interested parties with regard to
development of a comprehensive, long-term national spectrum strategy as
required by the Presidential Memorandum, Developing a Sustainable
Spectrum Strategy for America's Future (Spectrum PM), issued on October
25, 2018.\1\ Section 4 of the Spectrum PM requires the Secretary of
Commerce, working through NTIA, and in consultation with Office of
Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and other Federal entities to
submit a long-term National Spectrum Strategy to the President, through
the Director of the National Economic Council and the Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs, within 270 days.\2\ The
National Spectrum Strategy is to include legislative, regulatory, or
other policy recommendations to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
Agencies, Developing a Sustainable Spectrum Strategy for America's
Future, 83 FR 54513 (Oct. 30, 2018), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-10-30/pdf/2018-23839.pdf.
\2\ Id. at sec. 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Increase spectrum access for all users, including on a shared
basis, through transparency of spectrum use and improved cooperation
and collaboration between Federal and non-Federal spectrum
stakeholders;
(b) Create flexible models for spectrum management, including
standards, incentives, and enforcement mechanisms that promote
efficient and effective spectrum use, including flexible-use spectrum
licenses, while accounting for critical safety and security concerns;
(c) Use ongoing research, development, testing, and evaluation
[RDT&E] to develop advanced technologies, innovative spectrum-
utilization methods, and spectrum-sharing tools and techniques that
increase spectrum access, efficiency, and effectiveness;
(d) Build a secure, automated capability to facilitate assessments
of spectrum use and expedite coordination of shared access among
Federal and non-Federal spectrum stakeholders; and
(e) Improve the global competitiveness of United States terrestrial
and space-related industries and augment the mission capabilities of
Federal entities through spectrum policies, domestic regulations, and
leadership in international forums.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On June 18, 2018, the President issued Space Policy Directive-3,
National Space Traffic Management Policy (SPD-3), which sets forth
principles, goals, and guidelines for the National Space Traffic
Management Policy.\4\ NTIA believes SPD-3 shares many of the goals of
the Spectrum PM with respect to the development of the administration's
comprehensive and sustainable approach to our national spectrum policy.
For example, one of the goals of SPD-3 is to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Memorandum for Heads for the Vice President, Heads of
Executive Departments and Agencies, Space Policy Directive-3,
National Space Traffic Management Policy, 83 FR 28969 (Jun. 21,
2018), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-06-21/pdf/2018-13521.pdf.
[p]revent unintentional radio frequency (RF) interference. Growing
orbital congestion is increasing the risk to U.S. space assets from
unintentional RF interference. The United States should continue to
improve policies, processes, and technologies for spectrum use
(including allocations and licensing) to address these challenges
and ensure appropriate spectrum use for current and future
operations.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Id. at sec. 4(g).
Furthermore, SPD-3 provides that U.S. Government efforts in Space
Traffic Management (STM) should address the following spectrum
management considerations:
Where appropriate, verify consistency between policy and
existing national and international regulations and goals regarding
global access to, and operation in, the RF spectrum for space services;
Investigate the advantages of addressing spectrum in
conjunction with the development of STM systems, standards, and best
practices;
Promote flexible spectrum use and investigate emerging
technologies for potential use by space systems; and
Ensure spectrum-dependent STM components, such as inter-
satellite safety communications and active debris removal systems, can
successfully access the required spectrum necessary to their
missions.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Id. at sec. 5(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Request for Comments
This Request for Comments (RFC) solicits input to assist the
Secretary of Commerce, through NTIA, in developing a National Spectrum
Strategy. We solicit recommended actions as well as information that
can improve NTIA's understanding more generally in areas including
expanding spectrum access, improving spectrum sharing, enhancing
spectrum management, utilizing ongoing research and development
activities, fostering global competitiveness, protecting U.S. space
assets from RF interference, and augmenting the mission capability of
Federal entities.
NTIA invites comment on the full range of issues raised in this
RFC. NTIA also seeks comment on the following specific questions:
[[Page 65641]]
1. In what ways could the predictability of spectrum access for all
users be improved?
2. To what extent would the introduction of automation facilitate
assessments of spectrum use and expedite the coordination of shared
access, especially among Federal and non-Federal spectrum stakeholders?
3. What is the practical extent of applying standards, incentives,
and enforcement mechanisms to promote efficient and effective spectrum
use?
4. How might investment in RDT&E improve spectrum-utilization
methods, and spectrum-sharing tools and techniques?
5. What are the risks, if any, to the global competitiveness of
U.S. industries associated with spectrum management and policy actions?
6. How could a spectrum management paradigm be structured such that
it satisfies the needs of commercial interests while preserving the
spectrum access necessary to satisfy the mission requirements and
operations of Federal entities?
7. What are the likely future needs of spectrum users, both
terrestrially and for space-based applications, within the next 15
years? In particular, are present allocations of spectrum sufficient to
provide next generation services like Fifth Generation (5G) cellular
services and emerging space-based applications? For commenters who
assert that existing allocations are insufficient, NTIA is interested
in understanding better the amount of spectrum presently available to
provide particular services (or similar services) and estimates of the
amount of additional spectrum in each frequency band that the commenter
believes is needed.
Instructions for Commenters: Commenters are encouraged to address
any or all of the questions in this RFC. Comments that contain
references to studies, research, and other empirical data that are not
widely published should include copies of the referenced materials with
the submitted comments. Comments submitted by email should be machine-
readable and should not be copy-protected. Comments submitted by mail
may be in hard copy (paper) or electronic (on CD-ROM or disk).
Commenters should include the name of the person or organization filing
the comment, as well as a page number on each page of their
submissions. All comments received are a part of the public record and
generally will be posted on the NTIA website, https://www.ntia.doc.gov,
without change. All personal identifying information (for example,
name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
Dated: December 18, 2018.
David J. Redl,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National
Telecommunications and Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-27690 Filed 12-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
