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Spectrum Coordination Act
1/4/2024, 7:00 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1341
The bill aims to address the growing demand for spectrum by various industries, including telecommunications, broadcasting, and public safety. It seeks to establish a framework for more efficient and effective spectrum management, ensuring that the limited resource is used in a way that maximizes its potential benefits for the American people.
Key provisions of the Spectrum Coordination Act include the creation of a Spectrum Coordination Office within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This office would be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive national strategy for spectrum management, coordinating with federal agencies and private sector stakeholders to ensure efficient use of spectrum resources. Additionally, the bill calls for the establishment of a Spectrum Coordination Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from government, industry, and other stakeholders. This committee would provide input and recommendations to the Spectrum Coordination Office on spectrum policy and management issues. Overall, the Spectrum Coordination Act aims to modernize and streamline the management of the nation's spectrum resources, ensuring that they are used in a way that promotes innovation, economic growth, and public safety. It represents a bipartisan effort to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the increasing demand for spectrum in the digital age.
Congressional Summary of HR 1341
Spectrum Coordination Act
This bill requires periodic updates to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that guides federal efforts to coordinate the efficient management and use of the electromagnetic spectrum. It also requires documentation of interagency coordination during spectrum actions.
Specifically, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must update the current MOU within three years and then update subsequent MOUs at least every four years thereafter.
Additionally, the NTIA and the FCC must document their efforts to coordinate the identification and resolution of technical, procedural, or policy concerns of federal entities that are affected by a spectrum action (i.e., a proposed action by the FCC to reallocate spectrum that is anticipated to result in an auction or licensing that could potentially impact the spectrum operations of a federal entity).
In particular, the NTIA must file specified information in the public record during the period for submitting comments about the spectrum action. The information must include (1) the date on which the FCC notified the NTIA about the action, (2) a list of federal entities that may be affected by the action, (3) the date on which the NTIA notified those entities about the action, and (4) a summary of concerns with the action raised by affected entities.
The bill also requires the FCC to include in any final rule for a spectrum action an interagency coordination summary that describes (1) the date the FCC notified the NTIA about the spectrum action, (2) whether federal entities raised concerns, and (3) how any concerns were resolved.
