Spectrum for the Future Statement on Senate Commerce Committee’s “Spectrum and National Security” Hearing

Washington, D.C. – Spectrum for the Future (SFTF), a diverse coalition of innovators, anchor institutions, and technology companies, released the following statement on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation’s hearing to discuss federal spectrum policy and its critical national security implications. 

“We are glad to see members of the Senate Commerce Committee cast a spotlight on the advantages of dynamic spectrum sharing for our economic competitiveness and national security. The U.S. needs expedited commercial access to mid-band spectrum, and proven sharing regimes like CBRS offer the only clear path forward that won’t take decades to complete and needlessly impose billions in costs on taxpayers. Now is the time to embrace coexistence technologies that will maintain U.S. wireless leadership and facilitate consumer choice through competition, while still preserving vital national security systems,” said Tamara Smith, spokesperson for Spectrum for the Future.

As Spectrum for the Future has previously noted, unlike the relocation of incumbent federal users like the Department of Defense from key bands, advancing expedited commercial access to mid-band spectrum through coexistence technologies will deliver greater innovation and market competition without undermining critical national security systems. 

“Proposals contemplating expensive relocations of vital military systems in favor of exclusively licensed, high-powered use benefit only a handful of cellular carriers, forcing consumers and innovators to wait for one of three companies to make service available to them. In contrast, the U.S. has a major advantage in coexistence technologies, and leveraging that expertise can directly counter attempts by the People’s Republic of China and equipment-makers like Huawei to increase their leverage over global wireless systems,” Smith concluded.   

About Us: Spectrum for the Future represents a diverse coalition of innovators, anchor institutions, and technology companies who agree that an inclusive approach to wireless spectrum policy is essential to America’s future technology leadership, industrial might, and global competitiveness.