Spectrum for the Future Welcomes Insights on Dynamic Spectrum Sharing at NTIA Spectrum Symposium

Feb 1, 2024

Washington, D.C. [February 1, 2024] – Spectrum for the Future, a diverse coalition of innovators, anchor institutions, and technology companies, today applauded a continued focus on dynamic spectrum sharing among speakers at the 2024 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Spectrum Policy Symposium.

“Today’s discussion put a fresh spotlight on the economic, national security and consumer advantages of dynamic, locally licensed spectrum sharing in the 3 GHz band,” said Spectrum for the Future spokesperson Tamara Smith. “Critical military operations occurring right now are utilizing the lower 3 GHz band. We know that it’s possible to open this valuable spectrum to a wide range of commercial users while still allowing those military operations to exist, and proven technologies such as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) offer a clear roadmap for U.S. leadership in wireless innovation and 5G deployment.”

Among the experts who spoke at the symposium, several reinforced the case for spectrum sharing:

Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies, National Security Council:

  • “One part of our spectrum future is certainly creative and consistent approaches to sharing that are economical, that can be relied on by the private sector. So, regarding that dynamic spectrum sharing, we announced an effort to use advanced technologies, such as AI and edge computing, to enable government agencies such as DoD – who use spectrum as a critical resource for many different military platforms – while also creating opportunities for commercial users to have access to spectrum they may not have now. So, working in partnership with industry, we’re committed to making significant measurable progress on that goal in the next 10-16 months.”

Anna Gomez, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission:

  • “As consumer demand for wireless devices grows and new wireless uses are developed, identifying spectrum for exclusive use licenses will become more and more difficult. This is where American ingenuity and innovation can again set an example for the world. We can try to identify new spectrum, but we need to acknowledge that sharing needs to be part of our toolbox going forward. Dynamic spectrum sharing approaches will be key. And developing and implementing techniques for dynamic spectrum sharing will create a new era for spectrum management and use.”

John Sherman, Chief Information Officer, Department of Defense:

  • “You turn on the news now and you see U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Red Sea. You hear their names – the USS Carney, the Hudner, the Mason, and others – you look on social media or you watch the news and see at night tongues of flames leaping out of vertical launchers with missiles intercepting Houthi cruise missiles and other projectiles aimed at the Red Sea area. The radars guiding those missiles are emanating in the lower 3 GHz band. When I see, for example, the USS Carney… as recently as last night, using that spectrum to be able to get their missiles and ordnance to protect that commercial shipping and to protect our service members – this is what we’re talking about with spectrum.”
  • We’re going to be looking at something called ‘dynamic spectrum sharing’ – DSS. You hear the term ‘moonshot’ in there, which I love that word, because this nation – when we put our heads to it between industry and government and academia – we get things done. We have to figure DSS out – not only for the lower 3 GHz, but indeed, if and when we get this right, it unlocks other parts of the spectrum as well. And this is something I would add that even other nations have not mastered, to include authoritarian competitors like the People’s Republic of China.”

James Assey, NCTA

  • “We have new tools in the toolbox with which to be able to meet commercial demand whether that’s through licensed shared spectrum, unlicensed spectrum. All of those are going to be the lifeblood of the techniques and the strategies that we’re going to use in order to meet that commercial demand… we do really have to go band by band to determine what are the incumbencies, what are the potential for coexistence that we have, and how we can best manage the spectrum for the benefit of the American people.”

Jennifer Warren, Vice President, Technology Policy & Regulation, Lockheed Martin:

  • “When we look at what we’re doing – what the larger aerospace and defense industry is doing – next generation radar capabilities in this band, in the lower mid-band in particular, are significant.”
  • “Minimizing disruption to technology innovation for national security – where we are already an established leader and want to maintain [that leadership] – is equally important to reestablishing wireless leadership. It should not be disrupted to the expense of the other.”

Andrew Clegg, Spectrum Engineering Lead, Google:

  • “After four years, what we’ve learned is that there has never been a photon of interference to the DoD from CBRS that I am aware of. The DoD has never contacted SAS administrators and said that they are getting any interference.”