ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Does the military use its spectrum resources efficiently and effectively? The question was debated in a week-long 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 Defense Information Systems Agency.
Another promoter of military spectrum seemed to indicate that DoD needs even more spectrum.
“The challenge has been for technologists to cram as much information in the small slice of spectrum assigned to them,” said Marvin Hammond of Mitre Corp.
The process of evaluating spectrum leads the commercial sector and military to talk past each other, said Kalle Konston, program manager of the Alion Science & Technology Corp. “I am not sure we are at a place where we can talk about both the dollar value and functional value without talking past each other,” said Konston.
A proponent of the military evaluating its spectrum usage and the only economist to be part of the Bush Spectrum Policy Task Force said there is no conflict between efficient and effective use of spectrum. “Some people think cost-effective and efficiency are at odds. The key is to make sure our missions are achieved in the most cost-effective manner as possible,” said Adele Morris, economist in the Department of Treasury.
Another administration official agreed. “Effectiveness is part and parcel with efficiency,” said John Kneuer, deputy assistant Commerce secretary for communications & information. “It seems to me that if someone says they need 10 megahertz for something and we only give them eight megahertz, that is a horrible waste of eight megahertz.”
The commercial sector believes that there are opportunities for both sides to be satisfied.
“There are a lot of opportunities for spectrum to get in the hands of those that value it the most, while not compromising mission-critical functions,” said CTIA’s Garnett.
Garnett again stressed the wireless industry’s constant refrain of how well they use the spectrum allocated to them. “The reality is that we are deploying more services, using more minutes to more users with the same amount of spectrum,” he said.
