The Biden administration is studying 2,786 megahertz of spectrum that could be occupied for purposes including wireless broadband networks, satellites, and drones, the White House said today. Some visual groups are already being investigated by federal agencies, although inclusion in the national update process may increase those processes.
“These spectrum groups are a mix of federal and federal/non-federal distribution – with an emphasis on inter-group frequencies,” the new. National multi-spectrum strategy said that. The teams “will conduct research for a variety of uses, including ground-based wireless communications, innovative space missions, and unmanned aircraft and other autonomous vehicle operations.”
The plan details “five line-of-sight groups that merit in-depth study in the near term,” saying they can be useful for “government and non-government use for a wide range of advanced applications, materials and services the next generation.”
The largest range is from 7.125–8.4 GHz and can be used for wireless broadcasting. But some parts of this group will be disabled to prevent interference with existing users, the spectrum regulatory report said:
1,275 megahertz of this spectrum will be studied for wireless broadcasting use (on a licensed and/or unlicensed basis), although some subgroups may eventually be studied for other uses. However, there are many federally-critical activities in this group (including Fixed, Fixed-Satellite, Mobile, Mobile-Satellite, Space Research, Earth Exploration Satellite, and Weather Satellite activities) that will enable it is challenging to re-share the band while protecting active users from harmful interference.
Four more broad spectrum
Another spectrum group has 350 megahertz from 3.1 – 3.45 GHz, which the Department of Defense has already written for possible sharing with the private sector.
“The DoD determined that sharing was possible if some of the advanced interference features and a coordination mechanism to facilitate the sharing of views were put in place,” the new report said. The Departments of Commerce and Defense will work on the following studies that “explore dynamic allocation sharing and other opportunities for private sector access on the side, while ensuring that DoD and other federal mission capabilities are preserved , with any necessary changes.”
A small band being studied is 5.03–5.091 GHz. In January 2023, the Federal Communications Commission seek public comment on rules to allow unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to use the group.
“The FCC, in coordination with the NTIA (National Communications and Information Administration) and the Federal Aviation Administration, is expected to take immediate action to facilitate the limited deployment of UAS in this group,” the White House report said. “Then, 61 megahertz of this spectrum will be studied so that the FCC can improve access to UAS spectrum across the band while avoiding harmful interference to other protected security and band services.”
The National Spectrum Policy also includes 500 megahertz in the 18.1–18.6 GHz range and 600 megahertz in the 37.0–37.6 GHz range. The 18 GHz band is already licensed for fixed satellite operations, but may be additionally licensed for space-to-earth transmissions.
The 37 GHz band “will be further studied to implement an equitable, shared-use policy that allows federal and non-federal users to operate in the band,” the report said.
The US hopes to prevent spectrum wars
In general, the plan calls for collaboration with industry over the next 12 to 18 months “to advance research, create investment incentives, and set measurable goals for improving the state of technology for accessibility.” to perception, with an emphasis on dynamic methods of sharing perception. for all users.”
The reform review could lead to public battles over potential interference, including a recent high-profile fight over 5G deployment between airlines and wireless carriers. Such battles often involve competing studies that show conflicting results. The White House plan calls for establishing standards of analysis to prevent disputes over whether one use of a spectrum would interfere with another use.
Spectrum management should rely “on unbiased technical, scientific, mission, and economic analyses,” the spectrum policy said. “To provide greater exposure to, and the collection of important lessons, and to reduce the controversy and disputes of the findings, the US Government will develop better services for conducting these analyzes in support of spectrum management decisions. The lessons should be peer-reviewed, and the underlying findings should be published to the highest extent possible.”