UPDATE The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s role as a spectrum regulator was discussed at Thursday’s Senate oversight hearing for NTIA, the first such hearing in four years. Ted Cruz (R-TX) brought up a brewing issue concerning the Department of Defense (DoD) and spectrum use.
NTIA manages the federal spectrum. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) said: “This role includes identifying ways to make federal spectrum use more efficient, with the goal of making additional spectrum available for commercial use – an important task as we try to promote continued investment in next-generation networks.” But he noted “disputes between federal agencies over spectrum have become prevalent in recent years.” That was a reference to the recent dustup between the FAA and the FCC, plus carriers and the aviation industry concerning 5G operations on C-band.
On this topic, Cruz asked NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson if NTIA manages spectrum for DoD. Davidson said NTIA does, but added, “they have opinions.”
Cruz asked if NTIA should be engaged in spectrum management for DoD. Davidson said, “We try to engage them. They know their needs in the future.”
Cruz said the reason he brought up the topic is language “floating around” the Hill in an appropriation bill that would allow DoD to bypass NTIA for spectrum allocations. He noted the same effort was made several years ago, and he had that language removed, but said, “They seemed to be trying to go around NTIA. It was a bruising battle.”
Cruz asked if it would create problems for NTIA and federal spectrum users “for DoD to make its own plans for spectrum use.”
“We would have concerns about that,” Davidson replied. “We respect our colleagues in this space. But I do think we need to be coordinated so agencies don’t go off on their own and make decisions unilaterally.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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