The debate over how to best manage the nation’s wireless spectrum is an important one that has significant implications for the growth of wireless service and America’s ability to meet critical security needs. But there is a clear path forward – one that rejects a false narrative of either/or choices, and instead embraces a shared spectrum model that protects national defense interests, unleashes innovation, and secures America’s technology future.
Lay of the land
With the rapid rise of connective technologies reaching every corner of life, America needs a better way to manage its wireless spectrum. As a finite resource, proper management is critical to sustaining the growth and leadership the country has thus far achieved.
Certain bands of wireless spectrum are reserved for government and other critical users, such as the Department of Defense (DoD) or emergency services. Technology has enabled alternative uses for wide spectrum bands, leading to the re-allocation of some bands for commercial purposes as incumbent users are moved to other bands.
Historically, the U.S. has used a “clear-and-auction” model, where federal agencies vacated spectrum bands for exclusive use by commercial entities.
- This approach has become increasingly challenging and costly, often requiring billions of taxpayer dollars and taking decades to implement.
- In fact, the revenue generated from auctioning off licenses to some cleared bands may not even outweigh the cost of relocating incumbent users, making this approach increasingly burdensome and a giveaway to license holders at the taxpayer's expense.
Fortunately, a solution has emerged that better suits the reality of America’s modern wireless technology landscape: spectrum sharing. Considering wireless spectrum is a finite resource, planning for the future requires innovative solutions instead of focusing on limited approaches.
What is shared spectrum?
Shared spectrum utilizes newer technology to protect pre-existing users in a band, while also allowing new technologies to use the band. Shared spectrum ensures critical users like defense and emergency services always get priority, re-routing commercial devices to other bands so the two signals will not come into conflict.
A successful example of a shared spectrum model is the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), where users like businesses, schools, and airports share spectrum with government users for a wide variety of services. CBRS is currently being deployed to:
- Expand connectivity in rural America and underserved communities.
- Drive the development of precision agriculture.
- Empower enterprises and factories in building private networks that meet their specific needs.
- Reduce the cost of mobile phone service through innovation and new competitive offerings.
To meet the future needs of American tech innovation and to avoid endless cycles of conflict between government and commercial users, the U.S. must embrace new solutions to chart a path forward that benefits a wide variety of important interests.
Spectrum sharing through reliance on coexistence technologies does just that—it’s revolutionary, sustainable, and the best path forward to meeting our nation’s security needs while maintaining America’s position as a leader in spectrum innovation.