UPDATE Much praise flowed in from industry and regulators over America’s actions during the recent World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). CTIA President/CEO Meredith Attwell Baker applauded the global decision to harmonize new spectrum bands for 5G and beyond, particularly the critical lower 3 GHz band and the 7/8 GHz bands.
“It is essential that the United States takes this opportunity now to align our domestic policies with other countries around the world and establish a pipeline of mid-band spectrum for licensed commercial use so that we can unlock economies of scale, fuel new sources of growth and innovation, and strengthen our influence and future leadership in the global wireless ecosystem,” said Baker. “The world is moving ahead, and the United States must keep pace.”
Before joining the FCC, Commissioner Gomez was Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the State Department. In that capacity, she led U.S. preparations for WRC-23. “WRC-23 was the culmination of years of collaboration and hard work between our strong interagency team, the telecommunications industry, and our regional and international partners,” said Gomez. “The delegation’s accomplishments on terrestrial licensed and unlicensed spectrum as well as space allocations will advance science and economic prosperity worldwide.”
“The WRC was not just weeks of work in Dubai, but also years of preparation by the FCC, experts across the government, and our telecommunications industry,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The delegation’s accomplishments will promote innovation in unlicensed spectrum including WiFi, support 5G connectivity, pave the way for 6G, and bolster U.S. leadership in the growing space economy.” She said the agency now turns its attention to its preparations for WRC-27.
NTIA also worked on the U.S. preparation for WRC-23. NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson cited U.S. delegation actions to advance spectrum policy “for critical federal missions like aviation safety, weather, climate monitoring and even future lunar missions. The U.S. delegation also notched critical wins for the private sector in support of both licensed and unlicensed services, and in expanding space and satellite services.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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