When working with innovative companies, my rule of thumb is “find it, fix it, fund it.” The new administration can apply a similar methodology to spectrum, especially when it comes to realizing a future of new mobile-based opportunities and next-generation networks. One of America’s most valuable resources is its radio spectrum – the invisible airwaves that not only power our smartphones and tablets today, but also the autonomous vehicles and countless other “connected” innovations of tomorrow. Spectrum should be fully utilized so innovative startups will flourish to build new products and services, accelerating our country to full employment.
Two-thirds of the most valuable frequencies are held by federal agencies, received in free grants from the government, much of which lies fallow as government activities comprise a fraction of the frequencies allocated. Needless to say, identifying spectrum that could either be auctioned or shared is an important task if we hope to power the internet of things (IoT) for consumers and large-scale technologies. Key committees in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives regularly examine spectrum policy and other related technology policies, but the power to change spectrum policy also lies in the hands of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mike O’Reilly and Mignon Clyburn, as well as Jessica Rosenworcel if she is confirmed as expected.
While sharing is important, one additional path to enhancing and expanding access to spectrum is to put existing commercial licenses to better use. Keeping an innovative and open mindset when it comes to building new and innovative networks will be important as we move to a world where all things are connected. For too long the government has kept the brakes on spectrum; we need to push the pedal of acceleration.
Find it
There is broad bipartisan support for a new sharing model for managing these scarce spectrum resources. The more efficiently spectrum can be used, the more commercial participants can innovate, and consumers and entrepreneurs will benefit. For example, there was a call for 500 megahertz of government spectrum to be identified and shared by 2020. While this was a laudable goal, little progress has been made to realize it.
One example of a new spectrum sharing opportunity that is already commercially viable is to combine current spectrum licenses to form more seamless connectivity. For example, Ligado Networks has proposed combining radio waves meant for both satellite and ground-based communications to create more robust networks. While this proposal is still under review by the FCC, combining licenses offers operators an immediate opportunity to more spectrum and provides a faster path to higher bandwidth and expanded coverage.
Fix it
Given the deference on spectrum accorded to federal agencies over decades, few challenge their holdings in spite of the trillion dollars of opportunity left on the sidelines. Beyond the clear financial benefits, repurposing more spectrum for consumer use would also help connect more Americans to the mobile web. Furthermore, we will continually see technologies and applications developed that demand huge bandwidth and exceptionally fast speeds that extend beyond basic consumer need and into the industrial world. When solutions could be applied to first responder networks, manufacturing and sustainability – what some call the industrial IoT – more should be done to connect them with necessary resources to power these innovations.
Spectrum sharing proposals of all shapes and sizes are a classic “win-win” opportunity in which the incumbent operator can continue to operate at full capacity, while consumers and the economy will benefit from new deployments of next-generation mobile infrastructure. Approval of proposals, like that of Ligado’s, will set the precedent for a new model that can be deployed on other underutilized spectrum bands. Chairman Pai should move these sorts of proposals as part of his work to enhance connectivity, while simultaneously preparing for future innovations that demand more advanced networks.
Share it
It is possible that the new administration will more actively encourage a “use it or lose it” approach to spectrum for agencies holding and not using their spectrum. Congress and the FCC should encourage this and explore policies where unused spectrum would be subject to a standard sharing agreement.
Proposals before the FCC that encourage sharing or innovation on underutilized spectrum bands could be the catalyst for moving shared spectrum practices forward while enhancing access for interested parties and furthering opportunities and beneficial technologies for entrepreneurs and consumers. Innovators should be allowed to seek necessary solutions to obstacles to connecting consumers and businesses to better technologies.
