Developing a Sustainable Spectrum Strategy for America's Future

This memorandum directs federal agencies to develop a long-term National Spectrum Strategy to improve management of radiofrequency spectrum for economic growth, national security, and emerging technologies like 5G. It requires agencies to report their spectrum needs, revokes two Obama-era memoranda on wireless broadband, and establishes a Spectrum Strategy Task Force to coordinate implementation.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 54513

Impact dates

Jul 22, 2019
Long-term National Spectrum Strategy with policy recommendations
Apr 23, 2019
Agency spectrum requirements reports; OSTP emerging technology report; OSTP R&D priorities report; first annual spectrum repurposing report

Key directives

Agencies shall report anticipated future spectrum requirements to Secretary of Commerce within 180 days
Agencies shall initiate review of current frequency assignments and quantify spectrum usage
OSTP shall report on emerging technologies and expected impact on non-Federal spectrum demand within 180 days
OSTP shall report on R&D priorities for spectrum access and efficiency within 180 days
Secretary shall submit annual reports on spectrum repurposing initiatives within 180 days and annually thereafter
Secretary shall submit long-term National Spectrum Strategy within 270 days with legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations
Spectrum Strategy Task Force shall co-chair implementation coordination

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of 2010 and 2013 Presidential Memoranda on wireless broadband
Establishment of Spectrum Strategy Task Force

Near term (90d)

Agency reports to Secretary of Commerce on future spectrum requirements (by April 23, 2019)
OSTP reports on emerging technologies and spectrum demand (by April 23, 2019)
OSTP reports on R&D priorities for spectrum access (by April 23, 2019)
First annual report on spectrum repurposing initiatives (by April 23, 2019)

Long term

National Spectrum Strategy submission (by July 22, 2019)
Annual recurring reports on spectrum repurposing
Implementation of legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations for spectrum management

Risks & tensions

Tension between Federal mission requirements and commercial spectrum demands may create implementation conflicts
Classified/sensitive data protections may limit transparency of spectrum use assessments
Subject to appropriations availability, potentially constraining execution
Revocation of prior memoranda without replacement framework in place creates transitional uncertainty