Spectrum Sharing Works for America's Security

Spectrum Sharing Works for America’s Security

Wireless spectrum is essential for U.S. military and national security systems related to communication, radar, navigation, and advanced defense applications. With spectrum sharing, we can unleash new commercial opportunities in these valuable bands – getting more out of a scarce public resource while avoiding the costly, slow, and dangerous process of relocating sensitive military equipment used by the U.S. and its allies.

A lower powered shared spectrum framework also advances U.S. leadership in wireless technology and steers the world away from an exclusive, high-power licensing model – an approach endorsed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for its global influence campaign to consolidate control over the global 5G equipment market.

Spectrum sharing helps America remain secure and lead in the global race for wireless supremacy.

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) proves that commercial and government users, including the U.S. Navy, can successfully share the same spectrum while maximizing the efficient use of available frequencies.

Spectrum bands sought by the Big 3 mobile carriers for their exclusive, high-power licensed use currently house critical national security systems which cannot feasibly be relocated. When speaking about the 3.1 GHz band, Pentagon CIO John Sherman argued it would be “absolutely untenable” for the Department of Defense (DoD) to vacate the band.

A 2023 DoD feasibility assessment concluded that removing the military from the 3 GHz band could “result in setting the DoD back several decades compared to near peer adversary nations, take decades, and result in significant finance costs, up to hundreds of billions of dollars.”

A study by the Brattle Group also projects that shared licensing can generate almost $19 billion in revenue for the American people to pay down the deficit or fund new priorities. In contrast, exclusive licensing would impose a net loss due to the massive relocation costs involved, causing the auction of those licenses to fail.

Spectrum Sharing Snapshot: Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia

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When both costs and benefits are weighed, spectrum sharing generates greater return for the American people while allowing government users – like the U.S. military – to maintain the important missions that are crucial to upholding national security.

Expert voices have explained how spectrum sharing benefits U.S. national security and military operations:

Secretary Mike Pompeo

“We should balance the military’s access to certain spectrum bands with our nation’s economic growth and prosperity. We can do this by finding a solution that opens up spectrum while preserving access for our military warfighters. One option is ‘dynamic spectrum sharing,’ which would allow multiple entities to access and use the same radio frequencies. Proven sharing models, like the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), have already shown that commercial users and government users can share the same spectrum efficiently and without interference. For example, the U.S. Navy uses CBRS bands for mission-critical offshore radar operations.”

Read the full op-ed in Fox News.

General Keith Kellogg

“The last thing the Armed Forces should have to focus on right now is a potential drawback in their ability to protect our country. We face the most dangerous world in 30-plus years, with threats ranging from Russia to Iran to North Korea to China. Anything that diverts the military’s attention right now ultimately endangers our national security. One of the greatest challenges faced by military commanders is that of communications. Clear and concise exchange of information has always been vital to any successful military operation — even more so today. Effective command and control is at the heart of leadership, and efficient use of spectrum allows it.”

Read the full op-ed in The Hill.