Federal GovernmentFederal GovernmentSpectrum ManagementSpectrum Management

Karl B. Nebbia Associate Administrator, Office of Spectrum Management

National Telecommunications and Information Administration US Department of Commerce

National Spectrum Management Association’s Spectrum Management 2007 Conference

Washington, DC

May 23, 2007

Wireless In Our World – Requires Spectrum!

The National Telecommunications and The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)Information Administration (NTIA)

Advises the President on telecommunications and information policy issues

Manages Federal Government use of frequency spectrum

Represents the Executive Branch in international & domestic telecommunications policy activities

Performs telecommunications research and engineering for both the Federal Government and the private sector

U.S. Spectrum Management OrganizationU.S. Spectrum Management Organization ““The Current Culture”

Executive Branch

(President)

NTIAFederal Users

FCCNon-Federal Users

INTERDEPARTMENT RADIO ADVISORY COMMITTEEChaired by NTIA

19 Federal Agencies and the FCC

ADVISORY LIAISON

Legislative Branch

(Congress)

COORDINATIONNational Defense

Law Enforcement,

Homeland Security & Emergency Services

Transportation

Resource Mgmt & Control

Commercial

Private

Business

State & Local Government

Media

President’s Spectrum Policy InitiativePresident’s Spectrum Policy Initiative “Why we must change our culture”

“The existing legal and policy framework for spectrum management has not kept pace with the dramatic changes in technology and spectrum use.”

- President George W. Bush, Presidential Memorandum, - President George W. Bush, Presidential Memorandum, May 29, 2003 May 29, 2003

Committed the Administration to develop a comprehensive U.S. spectrum policy for the 21st century

The Secretary of Commerce was charged to lead this initiative Presidential Memo November 30, 2004 24 Recommendations Implementation Plan

Technology - Wireless Demand – SpectrumTechnology - Wireless Demand – Spectrum “Our present model will not work”

Constrained Resource

Continuing Development of New

Wireless Technologies

Continued Growth in Demand for Wireless

Applications

A New Paradigm is Needed for Spectrum Management

= “Stressed”Access

Vision:Vision: Assured Spectrum Access to Effectively and Assured Spectrum Access to Effectively and

Efficiently Support our National InterestsEfficiently Support our National Interests

Long Setup Times:• Engineering for thousands of assignments• Extensive manual coordination

Reactive Planning: Intended spectrum environment not known or limited knowledge of engagement, contingency, and planned operations

Spectrum Inflexibility: Static assignments dictate paucity in dynamic, RF rich environments

Spectrum Scarcity: Throughput limitations due to spectrum bandwidth constraints

Sub-Optimization: Unused and available spectrum restricted by existing practices

Near-Zero Setup Time:• Configure system operating parameters

via software• Standards approach will reduce amount

of pre-coordination required

Predictive and Adaptive Planning: Spectrum environment factored early in planning and automated adaptation to regional, local, and tactical policies

Dynamic Spectrum Access: Time and space dimension now considered. Allows spectrum access at the right place and at the right time

Enables efficient and effective utilization of spectrum

Spectrum availability is optimized through technology

TodayTodayTodayToday FutureFutureFutureFuture

Overall Goals of the Overall Goals of the President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative

Foster economic growth Ensure national and

homeland security Maintain U.S. global

leadership in communications technology development and services

Satisfy other vital U.S. needs such as public safety, scientific research, federal transportation infrastructure and law enforcement

Key Presidential Initiative Efforts Underway Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-bed - Consistent Methods for

Assessing New Technologies

Best Practices Handbook – Serves as a guide and common set of approaches to evaluate emerging technologies and their implications

New and Improved Analytical Tools - Provide Spectrum Managers with means to manage the spectrum efficiently

Automating SM Processes – Applying Information Technology to improve information sharing and timeliness

Spectrum Management Advisory Committee – Provides venue for insight and experiences from commercial sector

International Study on Policy Framework – WRC Preparations and Improving U.S. influence in International Spectrum Management Policies

Key Presidential Initiative Efforts Underway Continued

Spectrum Valuation Study – Determining if a monetary value can be placed on Federal government use of the spectrum

Capital Planning Process (OMB Circular A-11) – Spectrum having an economic value for capital investment and justifying budget requests

Economic and Regulatory Incentives Studies – Looking at ways to promote and encourage the use of efficient and effective spectrum technologies by spectrum fees, secondary markets, property rights or other possible methods

Federal Strategic Spectrum Plan – Comprehensive look at how the Federal government uses the spectrum today and in the future. Identifies the need for an evolutionary approach to achieve dynamic spectrum access as a vision.

Federal Strategic Spectrum PlanFederal Strategic Spectrum Plan 15 Federal agencies submitted agency-specific strategic spectrum

plans – November, 2005.

Plans provide current radio services and bands used, new technologies and future requirements as it relates to agencies’ missions and functions

Findings – Future difficult to quantify but wireless use is ever-increasing, missions becoming more complex, i.e. inter-agency, mobile, scenario-driven.

NTIA currently finalizing the 1st Federal Strategic Spectrum Plan – Will present a foundation for a national strategic vision to meet these future needs, i.e. sets in motion an evolutionary strategy that also considers dynamic spectrum access as another mechanism in satisfying these future spectrum needs.

Other NTIA Efforts to Support New Innovating Technologies and Services

“Wedging it into the current model” Advanced Wireless Services (“3G”) – government reallocated 45 MHz of

spectrum from federal use to non-federal use and enacted the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement act to facilitate relocation.

5 GHz Spectrum – government systems (military radars) to share with wi-fi devices using smart radio techniques

FreqCoord – Supports web-based assignment process at 70/80/90 GHz

Webcoord Status – Provides status of IRAC review on non-federal applications for use of shared bands http://ntiacsd.ntia.doc.gov/webcoord/status.cfm

New Web-based Access for Industry Submissions – Will allow commercial sector to obtain pre-certification of products to facilitate Federal government consideration in satisfying their requirements

SummarySummary Spectrum-dependent systems/services are the backbone of our economic

and national security.

Spectrum is the engine for economic growth and job creation.

This Administration is committed to developing and implementing spectrum policies that establish a domestic and international environment for economic growth while removing barriers to the timely implementation of American innovation in new technologies and services.

As a result, we continually seek inputs and collaborate with all the stakeholders. We must strive to work together in devising a National Spectrum Strategy that will achieve our vision for assured spectrum access.

NTIA continues its efforts in carrying out the Presidential recommendations.