"Fast Track" Spectrum Reallocation Proposed - NTIA

NTIA proposes to "Fast Track" the reallocation of 115 MHz of radio spectrum for wireless broadband now, increasing to a total of 500 MHz within ten years.

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2010/SpectrumFactSheet_11152010.pdf

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration - NTIA, is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policies. NTIA also serves to manage radio spectrum used by the military and other government users much as the FCC manages spectrum for public users.

NTIA FACT SHEET ON SPECTRUM PLAN AND TIMETABLE, FAST TRACK EVALUATION

“America's future competitiveness and global technology leadership depend, in part, upon the
availability of additional spectrum. The world is going wireless, and we must not fall behind….

Expanded wireless broadband access will trigger the creation of innovative new businesses,
provide cost-effective connections in rural areas, increase productivity, improve public safety,
and allow for the development of mobile telemedicine, telework, distance learning, and other
new applications that will transform Americans' lives….
This new era in global technology leadership will only happen if there is adequate spectrum
available to support the forthcoming myriad of wireless devices, networks, and applications that
can drive the new economy. To do so, we can use our American ingenuity to wring abundance
from scarcity, by finding ways to use spectrum more efficiently. We can also unlock the value of
otherwise underutilized spectrum and open new avenues for spectrum users to derive value
through the development of advanced, situation-aware spectrum-sharing technologies.”
- President Obama, June 28, 2010

Summary of the two DOC/NTIA reports

1) A Ten-Year Plan and Timetable to make 500 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal
spectrum available for wireless broadband use.

The Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
and other Federal agencies, prepared a Plan and Timetable that: 1) identifies an initial list of
candidate spectrum bands; 2) outlines steps to determine additional candidate bands; 3) sets a
process to assess and evaluate their feasibility; and 4) identifies actions necessary to make that
spectrum available for wireless broadband use within a decade. The Plan and Timetable identify
over 2,200 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal spectrum that will be evaluated for potential
opportunities for wireless broadband use. (See attached table.)
NTIA prepared the report pursuant to the June 28, 2010 Presidential Memorandum that directed
the Secretary of Commerce, through NTIA, to collaborate with the FCC to produce a ten-year
plan and timetable for making available 500 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal spectrum
suitable for wireless broadband use, while taking into account the need to ensure there is no loss
of existing critical government capabilities and the need for appropriate enforcement
mechanisms and authorities.

2) Fast Track Evaluation of the 1675-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, 3500-3650 MHz, and
4200-4220 MHz and 4380-4400 MHz bands.

NTIA, at the request of the Office of Management and Budget, the National Economic Council,
and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and in collaboration with the FCC and other
Federal agencies, performed a “fast track” review of some of these bands to determine whether
any spectrum could be made available for wireless broadband within five years. NTIA identified
and evaluated four bands for this review: 1) 1675-1710 MHz; 2) 1755-1780 MHz; 3) 3500-3650
MHz; and 4) 4200-4220 MHz and 4380-4400 MHz. NTIA recommends that 115 megahertz
(1695-1710 MHz and 3550-3650 MHz) be made available for wireless broadband in the next
five years, contingent upon timely allocation of funds. This is an important down payment on the
Administration’s commitment to address the growing demand for wireless broadband services.
The evaluation of the 1755-1780 MHz band could not be completed by an October 2010
deadline for identifying the initial tranche of spectrum. This band will continue to be a priority
for analysis in the Plan and Timetable.

Ten-year Plan and Timetable for 500 megahertz

NTIA has identified 2,200 megahertz of spectrum to evaluate for wireless broadband
opportunities, including the four fast-track bands, as candidate bands for review. The report
provides a roadmap for identifying wireless spectrum assigned to both Federal and non-Federal
users that can be allocated for wireless broadband, as well as for using all spectrum more
efficiently.

Review Mechanisms:

• NTIA will work in collaboration with the FCC to consider Federal, shared, and non-
Federal bands for potential commercial broadband use.
• NTIA will prioritize the candidate bands for analysis based on a variety of factors
including how the band is currently being used, industry interest, relocation cost for
Federal users, and the likelihood that the band can be repurposed within ten years.

The highest priority bands will be evaluated first.

• NTIA will convene the Policy and Plans Steering Group (PPSG) to perform the
evaluations of the candidate bands.
• In order to reach the 500 megahertz goal as rapidly as possible, bands will be
reviewed on a rolling basis. The recommendations will be released as the review of
each band is completed.
• The U.S. Chief Technology Officer, working in cooperation with NTIA and the
PPSG, will undertake reviews of agencies’ spectrum usage to ensure that the Federal
Government utilizes spectrum most effectively.
• NTIA will also solicit contributions from the Commerce Spectrum Management
Advisory Committee on how best to execute the mandate of the President’s
Spectrum Initiative. NTIA will also explore whether other mechanisms for public
input and technology development can inform and improve our Federal system of
spectrum management.

Providing incentives and assistance to agencies:

• DOC/NTIA state in the Plan and Timetable that the Administration intends to
propose improvements to the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act, particularly
focusing on the need to provide agencies with the funding to plan for relocation and
the need to provide agencies with greater flexibility in applying resources from the
Spectrum Relocation Fund.
• The Administration will need to allocate funds to support planning efforts. The
funding could be used to test the feasibility of alternative spectrum, evaluate the use
of different technologies, and undertake any other necessary planning efforts,
thereby creating more certainty as to what new spectrum will be (and when it could
be) made available.
• DOC/NTIA note in the Plan the Administration’s support for legislation to authorize
voluntary incentive auctions as an approach that provides incentives and assistance
for repurposing commercial spectrum.

The Fast Track Evaluation

NTIA conducted an accelerated analysis of four bands to determine whether any portion of the
bands can be made available within five years for wireless broadband.
1) 1675-1710 MHz – This band is currently used for radio transmitters on weather balloons
and similar systems, and downlinks from weather satellites. Many agencies, public safety
organizations, and radio and television stations receive and use this information.
Recommendation: DOC/NTIA recommend that a portion of the band, 1695-1710 MHz, be
made available, while protecting critical government sites via exclusion zones. The
exclusion zones will help minimize, but not eliminate, the impact to meteorological
services from making spectrum available for commercial use.
2) 3500-3650 MHz – The Department of Defense (DOD) currently uses this band for a
variety of tactical high-power radars. Many of these radars operate on ships. Other
systems in this band operate in DOD training areas and test ranges.
Recommendation: DOC/NTIA recommend that a portion of the 3550-3650 MHz band be
made available for wireless broadband, by licensing it for broadband use outside certain
coastal areas and test and training areas. These geographic limitations will ensure the
commercial use is protected from interference from DOD operations. This approach will
make available spectrum covering a significant area of the country while permitting DOD
to continue to meet mission and training requirements.
3) 4200-4220 MHz and 4380-4400 MHz – These band segments are part of the 4200-4400
MHz band that is used worldwide for radio altimeters on aircrafts.
Recommendation: DOC/NTIA recommend NTIA further review these band segments to
explore to what extent radio altimeters operate in these particular band segments. NTIA
recognizes that, due to the need for international regulatory action by the International
Telecommunication Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization, these 40
megahertz of spectrum cannot be made available for broadband use in the United States
before 2016. However, the U.S. Government will initiate the necessary action now to
obtain international approvals for reallocating this spectrum by 2016.
4) 1755-1780 MHz – This band is currently used by DOD, Federal law enforcement
agencies, and other agencies for a variety of satellite, surveillance, aeronautical
operations, fixed microwave and other operations.
Recommendation: Given the number of Federal users in the band, the diversity of Federal
uses, and the need to find replacement spectrum for operations that would have to be
relocated from the band if it were to be made available for wireless broadband, DOC/NTIA
could not complete a rigorous review of this band by October 2010. This band will
continue to be a priority for analysis under the Plan and Timetable.

Next Steps

• Funding for Planning and Redesign – Making the 1695-1710 MHz and 3550-3650 MHz
band available for wireless broadband will require timely allocation of funding for affected
Federal operations to engage in planning, and in some cases to make changes to their
operations and redesign their equipment. For example, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would need to redesign the next generation of
geostationary meteorological satellites to move all communications below 1695 MHz or
develop an alternate communications method which recognizes current reliability and
availability requirements. Also, NOAA will need to redesign radio transmitters used on
weather balloons and similar systems to use spectrum more efficiently to make room for
satellite downlinks.
• Reallocation Rulemakings – The FCC must conduct rulemakings in order to implement
NTIA’s recommendations.

Background

• As historical context, NTIA reallocated approximately 225 megahertz for non-Federal use
in February 1995. NTIA started that effort in August of 1992 at the direction of Congress.
The FCC auctioned a portion of that spectrum, the 1710-1755 MHz band, in 2006, and the
spectrum is still in transition as agencies relocate their operations. Making available 500
megahertz represents an even greater challenge as spectrum use by both Federal and non-
Federal users has increased.
• NTIA serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the
President on telecommunications and information policies. NTIA also manages the
Federal use of spectrum and formulates and establishes plans and policies that ensure the
effective, efficient, and equitable use of the spectrum both nationally and internationally.

Initial Band Candidates that NTIA and the National Broadband Plan
Identified

Frequency Band
(MHz)
Amount
(Megahertz)
Current Allocation/Usage
(Federal, Non‐Federal, Shared)
(Broadcast TV)**
VHF/UHF Frequencies
120 Non‐Federal
406.1‐420 13.9 Federal
(D‐Block)**
758‐763
788‐793
10 Non‐Federal
1300‐1390 90 Federal
(MSS)**
1525‐1559
1626.5‐1660.5
40 Non‐Federal
(MSS)**
1610‐1626.5
2483.5‐2500
10 Non‐Federal
1675‐1710∗ 35 Federal/non‐Federal Shared
1755‐1780∗ 25 Federal
1780‐1850 70 Federal
(AWS 2/3)**
1915‐1920
1995‐2000
10 Non‐Federal
(MSS)**
2000‐2020
2180‐2200
40 Non‐Federal
(AWS 2/3)**
2020‐2025
5 Non‐Federal
(AWS 2/3)**
2155‐2180
25 Non‐Federal
2200‐2290∗∗∗ 90 Federal
(WCS)**
2305‐2320
2345‐2360
30 Non‐Federal
2700‐2900 200 Federal
2900‐3100 200 Federal/non‐Federal Shared
3100‐3500 400 Federal/non‐Federal Shared
3500‐3650∗ 150 Federal
3700‐4200 500 Non‐Federal
4200‐4400 200 Federal/non‐Federal Shared
[4200‐4220 & 4380‐4400]∗ Federal/non‐Federal Shared
Total 2263.9
∗ Bands selected for Fast‐Track evaluation
∗∗ Identified in the National Broadband Plan, Recommendation 5.8, page 86 (using nomenclature
contained in Exhibit 5‐E)
∗∗∗ NTIA notes the ITU‐R SA.1154 Recommendation

 

I see they want part of the 160 and 80 meter bands.

 

Megahertz

These are all in Megahertz so the figures you were referring to would convert to gigahertz, not the 160 and 80 meter ham bands...
Very 73...Joe

 

The only Amateur spectrum on the list is a part of the 2.3 GHz band where Amateur is already secondary to the identified WCS, so this is, at least so far, a positive thing for Amateur Radio. The doom-and-gloomers have no cause to celebrate this day.

73,
Ed, W1RFI

 

Ah! Very good. Thanks.

 

Looks strait forward

the plan as I read it looks good but beware of the beast it would be nice if the FCC would look at how many radio licenses are not being used properly or at all.
I watch the new licences's for instance each week issued for Arkansas I'm amazed at the wast to point out a few there is no reason for Orilys or Napa to get a radio frequency of there own when the cellular service could and should be used instead. there are many many more examples of this. Updating the entire country's fiber optic system especially in rural areas first something that is 20 years behind schedule. this does bring up the point that everyone needs to write there congress men about the feds keeping there fingers off the amateur spectrum including the parts where we are secondary users and use as much of our bands as we can because if they lay dormant or rarely used we will loose them.

 

My "Question" is.......

What are the plans for use of the newly abandoned VHF TV channels? Surely, not for cell 'phones. I'm just curious as to whom is going to get these frequencies?

Nowadays, you have to be practically up under the UHF digital channels antenna to get good over-the-air reception. Any farther out and you have to have cable or satellite. It would be much simpler to run underground, fiber optic in an armored cable or metal pipe to protect it to everyone's home, including the rural folks. TV, 'phone, and data service all from one tiny thread, digitized, and ham radios don't affect it.

Maybe in order for me to get good over-the-air TV reception, I'll need to build a multi-element bed-spring collinear TV antenna, like the OLD DAYS and try it out. If it didn't pick up TV too well, I could always use it for 70cm ssb, LOL!

Just an idea.

GOD BLESS,
73,

Don/KA5LQJ

Joyeaüx Noël et Bonn Année du Luzianne!
(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Louisiana!)

 

Unless I am reading it wrong our 9 Centimeter allocation is also on the list.

Amateur:
3300 - 3400 MHz Secondary to Radiolocation
3400 - 3500 MHz Co-secondary with Mobile Radiolocation, Fixed Satellite (Space to Earth) is primary

 

Hi Ed...Good to see you on this side of the sod!

From your position in Newington, do you have any idea how many Amateurs may actually using any of the allocations above 23cm on a regular basis? And I mean other than the occasional hilltoppers.

73

Steve, K4YZ

 

Don, I have put up an old RV antenna on Plastic Conduit, with an el-cheapo Radio Shack Pre-Amp. Height of antenna about 20 feet above grade (ASL 850'). I also happen to live at the County high point. I am getting stations from a 90 mile radius. The OTA is really nice as one station uses its third freq. for twenty four hour weather. That helps during foul weather as the Sat loses the bird (RAIN FADE). A quick grab of the remote, find the correct station, then go turn on the weather radio, at that point, I decide if it is time to go play Sky Warn, or get the XYL and my self under ground.

 

Only one problem. everything that is "wireless broadband for rural America" has been installed in major cities. Not one tower has been placed anywhere in RURAL America.

Read up for yourself.

NA4IT

 

I have to agree I live out in the boonies. No Cable, No DSL, Noisy Copper best speed a modem can hook up is 30K. We get TV from a bird and OTA. WISP you have got to be kidding, There is one provider, his prices reflect his monopoly status, Five other companies are close but not close enough.

It seems that WISPs would rather fight over customers than go where there is little comp. Cell Phone companies seem the best bet, Again not much help, Two companies claim they serve us, NOT EVEN a small red bar. One says that they do not how ever their service department is looking into getting the signal that last 1/2 mile.

 

Hi Ed W1RFI -

Why the "gloom and doom" comment? This post is simply provides information from the NTIA on a topic likely to be of interest to the amateur radio community. Seems like a knee jerk reaction but perhaps that was not your intention.

73 Rex K0KP

 

Fast Track" Spectrum Reallocation Proposed - NTIA

Just for giggles I searched on "wireless broadband for rural America" You guessed it Yup BPL I thought that had died.

Now they are claiming that the new stuff is adaptive, meaning if it sees a signal it will not use that freq. Well how sensitive is it will it see the DX station I just heard, or come on and bury the band. What about the guys on Maritime Mobile that may be crying for help will it hear them?

Hurricane watch nets, Earth quake nets and such will this adaptive BPL see them or just raise the noise flour?

 

The VHF TV frequencies are still in use in some areas of the country. Most broadcasters moved to UHF because the digital TV has less atmospheric noise causing less breakups in UHF. Some broadcasters were forced to go to VHF since the available UHF TV frequencies had been taken or they thought it would be a cheaper A-D conversion to stay on VHF. The band has by no means been abandoned of given up for the highest bidder.