WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday revealed a plan to potentially increase the availability of radio spectrum needed for cellphones, satellites, navigation, space travel, and other emerging technologies.
The increasingly digitized and mobile economy has placed strain on the available range of frequencies used for wireless communication. The spectrum is also crucial for national security and responding to disasters.
“We all recognize that the spectrum is crowded, and demand is growing rapidly,” said Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This is a way to overcome the limitations of today.”
The strategy will help to coordinate and guide how spectrum is allocated by the Federal Communications Commission, an independent government agency.
The National Telecommunications Information Administration will conduct a two-year study on how to potentially repurpose 2,786 megahertz of spectrum, which could be utilized for wireless broadband, drones, and satellites. There will also be coordination among government agencies, encouragement of innovation in the sector, and workforce development as part of the strategy.
