WASHINGTON-National Telecommunications and Information Administration head Larry Irving last week reiterated the administration’s opposition to Department of Defense spectrum priority bills, but sidestepped the question of whether the legislation signals a loss of confidence in NTIA’s ability to manage federal government spectrum.
Irving, unveiling a new government study on the “digital divide” between information “haves and have nots” last Thursday, speculated the DOD legislation might be the result of the Pentagon’s loss of spectrum in recent years to the private sector and Congress’ push to make spectrum available for emerging wireless technologies.
“There is an inherent tension,” said Irving. NTIA advises the White House on telecom policy and oversees federal government spectrum.
Irving said key telecom lawmakers and Office of Management and Budget director Jacob Lew had “expressed concern about the language in the bills.”
Some see the DOD legislation as an attempt to circumvent NTIA in order to get spectrum protection from Congress.
One of two measures with provisions troubling the White House and wireless industry is a DOD authorization bill that would give the Pentagon super-primary status in spectrum shared with the private sector and other government agencies.
The other, a House DOD authorization bill, would give the Pentagon priority access to the global positioning system, though some industry observers say the legislation could backfire on the U.S. military.
The White House and many wireless firms are on opposite sides on a Senate DOD appropriations bill. The legislation would require the auction of 36 megahertz from TV Channels 60-69 this year.
To do so, Congress needs to amend a 1997 law that forbids the sale of that spectrum before Jan. 1, 2001.
Some in industry argue the infusion of the 36 megahertz into the marketplace this year would exacerbate a spectrum glut, hurting wireless start-ups particularly and shortchanging the U.S. Treasury.
Given that concern and a projected budget surplus of $120 billion at the end of this fiscal year (Sept. 30), there is a question of why there is a rush to auction the reallocated TV channels this year.
But AirTouch Communications Inc. and others are anxious to secure more spectrum now to accommodate data and multimedia applications of third-generation mobile phones.
