CSMAC Approves Proposed MOU for Spectrum Discussions Between NTIA, FCC

The Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee unanimously approved, with no debate, a proposed memorandum of understanding Thursday between NTIA and the FCC (see 2101130054) on how they cooperate on spectrum. The current CSMAC is scheduled to meet one more time, during the new Joe Biden administration, to vote on a report on spectrum for drones.

The Spectrum Strategy Governance Working Group asked “how do we make decisions on spectrum utilization, and is the process serving us well?” said co-Chair Mary Brown, Cisco senior director-technology and spectrum policy. “Never before has spectrum been so important to every user community, and it’s no surprise that among the user communities, there are often differences of opinion,” she said.

Brown noted the current MOU is 15 years old. It promotes coordination, but “we were searching” to promote “greater collaboration and … mutual understanding between the agencies,” she said: “That’s an even better outcome than just coordination.”

“Spectrum management” has changed “dramatically” since the MOU was established, said Jennifer Manner, EchoStar senior vice president-regulatory affairs, the other WG co-chair. The new MOU also explicitly discusses sharing, international issues and standards issues for spectrum, she said.

The MOU requires the heads of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology and NTIA’s Office of Spectrum Management to plan for meetings between the FCC chairman and NTIA administrator, Manner said. “That would force them to determine what the agenda was and really increases and clarifies the time frame for review of routine and not-routine items,” she said. The MOU also calls for a standing working group on spectrum planning and initiatives, she said.

CSMAC co-Chair Jennifer Warren, Lockheed Martin vice president-technology, policy and regulation, said that the fact that the MOU raised no questions shows the WG did a good job of including everyone in the discussions.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said Thursday the current FCC has had spectrum disputes with other agencies because it tackled bands other administrations didn’t want to touch (see 2101140025). The WG released a report in July that looked at broader changes to federal oversight of spectrum (see 2004220059) with recommendations but no final conclusions (see 2007280047).

The administration had a good year in 5G in 2020, with the citizens broadband radio service auction and an agreement to look at 5G in 3.45-3.55 GHz, said Carolyn Roddy, deputy NTIA administrator. “There’s more work to do,” she said: “It’s not too soon, though, to be thinking about what NTIA can do, on its own or in partnership with the FCC and other federal agencies, to further push the envelope on spectrum management innovation. There are possibilities for more automated spectrum management tools and techniques.” Roddy cited research on incumbent informing capability technology.

“We also need to ask questions,” Roddy said: “What knowledge gaps can we identify? What tools do we need to develop? What are our research priorities?”

NTIA is continuing to work with the FCC and industry on sharing tools in the CBRS band, said Charles Cooper, associate administrator of the NTIA Office of Spectrum Management. NTIA is also working with DOD and the FCC on “defining the coordination mechanisms” for sharing the 3.45-3.55 GHz band, leading to an auction this year, he said. By the latest count, 1,130.5 MHz of midband spectrum, between 1 and 10 GHz, has been made available for 5G, he said.

The Unmanned Aircraft Spectrum WG presented a draft report, with a final report due at the next meeting.