WASHINGTON-Congress’ interest in third-generation wireless and its potential impact on the military became more evident last week as congressional auditors warned a key senator against a hasty decision to move the military off of the 1700 MHz band and the House telecommunications subcommittee heard testimony about such a move.
“While the national interest in a broad sense may be served by a robust commercial mobile wireless system, national security also requires that the federal government be able to meet its unique communications requirements to support domestic training and worldwide military operations. … Spectrum decisions based on either the [Department of Defense] or the industry study of 1755-1850 MHz band would be premature at this time. … We found that neither the DoD model nor the competing industry model is mature enough to calculate spectrum interference,” reads a draft report by the General Accounting Office released last week by Sen. James Inhofe’s staff.
Inhofe, an Ok when the birds become space junk, said Linton Wells, acting assistant secretary of Defense for command, control, communications and intelligence.
Even if the industry were to wait that long, it would still have to pay at least $3.9 billion to relocate the military, said NTIA.
GAO findings
The GAO report urges better coordination by the Department of Commerce and its subsidiary agency, NTIA, on both the military’s current and future needs, and the needs of other executive-branch agencies.
The GAO recommended the Commerce Department “coordinate with appropriate executive brand agencies to review existing national spectrum-management plans and policies, and, if necessary, to establish a clearly defined national-spectrum strategy reflecting DoD requirements for international agreements and spectrum requirements to operate overseas.”
NTIA got its chance to give its views, opaque as they might be, during the House telecommunications subcommittee hearing. In the past, the Commerce Department hasoluntary basis. Identifying comparable spectrum is important to the 3G spectrum allocation process because the provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 protect Department of Defense uses of the spectrum unless alternative spectrum can be identified that preserves essential military capability,” said Hatch.
The Federal Communications Commission reiterated its belief during the House telecom subcommittee hearing that the 1700 MHz band is better suited to 3G than the alternative 2.5 GHz band.
“Given the ubiquitous nature of the [Instructional Television Fixed Service]/[Multipoint Distribution Service], the report found sharing of this spectrum for 3G does not appear feasible. … Reallocating a portion of the 2500-2690 MHz band from incumbent services for new [3G] mobile wireless services would raise significant technical and economic difficulties. … Parts of the 1710-1850 MHz band could be used to harmonize with [second-generation] GSM systems, which are currentlm will be cleared and auctioned, and a process must be established for reimbursing federal government users for relocation,” said Strigl.
Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) pressed Wells to commit the Pentagon’s attention and cooperation to coming up with a bill that would facilitate the military moving from the 1700 MHz band. Wells finally agreed, but maintained that he was skeptical that a suitable arrangement could be made.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), subcommittee chairman, said he hopes to hold a hearing on the Pickering bill once it is introduced after the August recess and then pass the bill out of subcommittee in October.
The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to get into the 3G action this week. Its communications subcommittee has scheduled a hearing Tuesday. Nancy Victory, nominee to be assistant Commerce secretary for communications and information, will appear before the full committee for her confirmation hearing Wednesday. As assistant secretary, Victory will lead NTIA. Since 3G is such aep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), subcommittee vice chairman, has introduced a bill repealing the spectrum cap. Strigl called for passage of the bill.
The FCC is expected to make a decision on its most recent review of the spectrum cap by the end of the year, said Knapp.
