ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Does the military use its spectrum resources efficiently and effectively? This is the question being debated in a weeklong conference.
At one end of the argument stands the Department of Defense, which says it measures spectrum efficiency based on the ability to deliver mission-critical applications. Commercial spectrum users measure efficiency using other parameters.
“The Department of Defense has long been accused as a spectrum hoarder,” said Vic Sparrow, deputy director for spectrum management in DoD’s office of assistant secretary for network information & integration. Sparrow denied the accusation. “On the commercial side, there is a focus on return on investment,” said Sparrow. “We are primarily concerned with mission capability.”
Commercial spectrum users believe there is room for improvement. “We welcome the opportunity to identify under-utilized spectrum in both the commercial and government,” said Paul Garnett, CTIA assistant vice president for regulatory policy. “We believe there is a lot of low-hanging fruit in both the commercial and government sectors.”
The military is not turning a blind-eye to the need to use spectrum effectively and efficiently, said Sparrow, noting DoD is developing a spectrum scorecard to evaluate spectrum use.
“We are looking at spectrum efficiency but in the view of capability,” said Sparrow. “We can’t dissect the two. When looking at efficiency, we have to look at capabilities.”
One of the military’s technologists doesn’t believe a spectrum scorecard is necessary.
“DoD is constantly trying to get as much use out of the spectrum as possible,” said Mike Williams, technical director in the DISA Joint Spectrum Center. DISA is the Defense Information Systems Agency.
