New technologies and services have
created explosive demand for radio spectrum. But spectrum
is a finite natural resource-we cannot make more-and
under our current rules, demand is outstripping supply.
Fortunately, the same technologies that create exploding
demand can provide the solution to this problem, by
letting more devices use spectrum than is now possible.
More intensive use of spectrum would meet existing and
potential demand and could be the basis for unprecedented
economic growth. We have no choice as a nation but to
exploit this technological opportunity, but in order
to do so, our spectrum management system must change.
The existing organization and legal structure, which
we have inherited from an earlier technological era,
blocks the development and adoption of the new spectrum
technologies we need to move ahead.
The Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) established a commission to assess spectrum
management and consider changes in policies and procedures
that would better meet the national interest. The goal
was to find practical recommendations to replace the
existing structure for decisionmaking with a process
oriented toward long-term national objectives. This
report grows out of the work of this commission. It
provides an overview of the issue and recommendations
on four key problems for U.S. spectrum management:
| Contents |
|
Executive Summary
Introduction |
| |
The Need for Change
A National Resource
New Spectrum Technologies Create Opportunity and
Risk
Recommendations for Improved Spectrum Management
|
| Recommendation 1. White House Oversight |
| |
Special Assistant for Spectrum Management
Policy Coordinating Committee for Spectrum Management
Dispute Resolution |
Recommendation 2. Spectrum Advisory
Board
Recommendation 3. Reinforce International Functions
Recommendation 4. Research Support for Spectrum
Innovation
Recommendation 5. Create a National Spectrum Strategy
|
| |
Balancing Private and Public-Service Spectrum
Needs
Protecting Safety-of-life Services
Markets or Commons |
| Conclusion |
|
| |
A Checklist for Federal Spectrum Management Reform |
| CSIS Commission on Spectrum Management |
