PResident Joe Biden’s decision to study how to make government-owned spectrum frequencies more available to the private sector could help the US accelerate 5G expansion and catch up with China.
Biden announced a “national spectrum strategy” on Monday that specifies how many frequencies the federal government believes private companies can use to expand operations related to everything from voice calls to mobile apps. We called for detailed research on these frequencies. Spectrum is an important part of how many technology companies operate. Although most people may not be aware that electromagnetic waves exist around us, industry groups believe they are fundamental to America’s ability to innovate.
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“Spectrum, especially licensed spectrum, is an important platform for innovation,” said Umair Javed, vice president of the Mobile Telephone Industry Association. washington examiner. “America’s long-term competitiveness requires these technologies developed by American companies. Ensuring that his 5G platform to make it happen requires full power licensed spectrum It’s important to free up more bandwidth.”
What is a spectrum?
According to the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), spectrum refers to “the physical phenomenon of electromagnetic waves.” This spectrum varies depending on the quality of the information being transmitted, from local county radio frequencies to 5G antennas and image transmissions from satellites. Measured in Hertz. The higher the hertz, the more information is transmitted.
Most of the frequencies are owned and regulated by the federal government. Ownership helps governments keep certain frequencies safe. For example, some frequencies are used by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and others for communications between law enforcement agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration uses other frequencies to provide safety services such as aviation radio navigation, landing guidance in inclement weather, and air-to-ground communications.
In a statement announcing Biden’s spectrum strategy, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said, “Frequency is at the forefront of enabling the everyday and the extraordinary, from checking the weather on your phone to traveling to space. “It’s a resource that has been saved.” “As demand for this resource increases, the United States will continue to lead the world in frequency innovation.”
Who regulates the spectrum?
There are a limited number of frequencies available to private companies, and each can only perform specific functions. That means government agencies must determine who has access to what and whether a license is required to use the frequencies for communications or data transmission. NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission are the federal agencies with the authority to regulate these frequencies. The NTIA specifically governs the federal government’s use of spectrum, while the FCC handles all private and private uses of spectrum.
The government owns most of these frequencies. This makes it difficult for private companies like Verizon and AT&T to compete. As a result, the NTIA and FCC are trying to determine whether it can be made private without impacting other federal government operations. It would also allow the federal government to use technology more efficiently.
“Mobile data traffic has been growing by double digits every year and grew by nearly 40% last year,” Javed said. “That number is expected to triple in the next few years. We need more full-power licensed spectrum to meet this demand.”
The most important spectrum for 5G is in the “midband” spectrum, or frequencies between 3 gigahertz and 8 gigahertz. Three sections are considered viable for additional 5G deployment by CTIA: 3.1-3.45 GHz, 4.4-4.94 GHz, and 7.125-8.4 GHz ranges.
The study, prompted by Biden’s order, is expected to be completed within two years and will analyze the government’s use of the frequencies on the list. If the FCC-NTIA study determines that the frequencies are safe for use by private companies, wireless providers such as AT&T and Verizon can release some of those frequencies to additional networks connected to them. It may be possible to deploy towers. For example, the Biden administration could free up frequencies used by the Pentagon and allow private companies to tune their devices to the same frequencies.
Will a spectrum strategy help the US?
The National Spectrum Strategy has received a generally positive response from lawmakers and industry experts.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said, “Making spectrum available for commercial use is an important step for our nation. It will help strengthen our economy, national security, and ensure we can successfully compete with China.” ) in a statement praising Biden’s plan.
“Increasing 5G spectrum means Americans can benefit from the world’s best wireless broadband network and the industry-wide innovation it enables,” Javed asserted.
The expansion of mid-band frequencies will also help the US make further efforts to catch up with China, which has an advantage in the 5G race based on average speed and number of 5G base stations built over a three-month period.
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Still, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, criticized the plan. “So how much spectrum did the Biden administration’s spectrum plan promise to provide? Zero,” Karr said. stated in a statement. Carr points out that Biden had already planned another three years of spectrum research, but there were no significant changes in industry issues. This made him skeptical that anything important would change if he studied for two more years.
It is expected to take several months before the results of the study are known.
