President Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Commerce Department, alongside the NTIA, to develop a long-term spectrum strategy in part to aid the rollout of 5G network technology in the United States.
Additionally, Trump’s order creates a White House Spectrum Strategy Task Force that will collect reports from federal agencies on government spectrum needs and how that spectrum might be shared with private sector users.
The move could free up additional spectrum currently used by the federal government for commercial uses, including 5G.
“The Department welcomes President Trump’s leadership and direction, which will shape our ongoing policy, planning, and research efforts and boost our collaborative efforts. We have a talented team of spectrum experts at the Commerce Department and in NTIA who are excited to get to work alongside our partners across the executive branch, including with the Federal Communications Commission,” wrote David Redl, chief of the NTIA. “The President’s national strategy comes at a pivotal time in the global race for 5G. We are committed to ensuring America is a pioneering leader in the development of 5G and the communications technologies of tomorrow.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Trump’s order sparked cheers among those in the wireless industry.
“The Trump Administration demonstrated its vision once again today to maintain America’s leadership in wireless innovation. The memorandum signed today by the President to make more spectrum available for 5G deployment will spur greater economic growth and jobs not just in the wireless industry, but nearly every sector of the economy. I applaud the Administration on today’s action,” wrote WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein.
“TIA strongly supports today’s action by the President to direct the creation of a National Spectrum Strategy. Even as the first 5G deployments and IoT applications are beginning to transform today’s networks, new technologies are being developed that could fundamentally transform how spectrum will be used in the future,” wrote Cinnamon Rogers, TIA’s SVP of government affairs.
Added Steven Berry of the Competitive Carriers Association: “Making additional spectrum available for advanced wireless services will greatly benefit consumers and businesses across the country, particularly in rural America. CCA is pleased the Administration is focused on this important issue, and we look forward to continued engagement with policymakers to ensure spectrum is available for deployment of next-generation wireless technologies.”
Trump’s order on spectrum for 5G comes just weeks after his administration held a 5G summit among Congressional leaders and officials from the FCC and NTIA, alongside representatives from the wireless industry. That summit was billed as a listening session for the White House—and today’s order appears to be the president’s first official action on the topic stemming from the summit.
To be clear, this isn’t Trump’s first action on 5G. He cited national security and the United States’ role in 5G as a factor in his decision to bar Broadcom from acquiring Qualcomm earlier this year.
Further, a leaked White House document earlier this year hinted at a proposal for the U.S. government to build a nationwide 5G network, though White House officials today made clear Trump does not support such an action.
"We will prioritize efforts to accelerate the private sector’s development of 5G, so that the American people can reap the rewards of this incredible technology," White House adviser Michael Kratsios told reporters, according to Reuters.
The full text of President Trump’s memorandum is below:
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Developing a Sustainable Spectrum Strategy for America’s Future
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to use radiofrequency spectrum (spectrum) as efficiently and effectively as possible to help meet our economic, national security, science, safety, and other Federal mission goals now and in the future. To best achieve this policy, the Nation requires a balanced, forward-looking, flexible, and sustainable approach to spectrum management.
The growth in the availability of mobile wireless broadband connectivity over the past decade has reshaped the American experience — the way Americans work, learn, shop, run businesses, transport their families and goods across the Nation, farm, conduct financial transactions, consume entertainment, deliver and receive public safety services, and interact with one another. In the growing digital economy, wireless technologies expand opportunities to increase economic output of rural communities and connect them with urban markets, and offer safety benefits that save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce the cost of transportation incidents. American companies and institutions rely heavily on high-speed wireless connections, with increasing demands on both speed and capacity. Wireless technologies are helping to bring broadband to rural, unserved, and underserved parts of America. Spectrum-dependent systems also are indispensable to the performance of many important United States Government missions. And as a Nation, our dependence on these airwaves is likely to continue to grow.
As the National Security Strategy of 2017 made clear, access to spectrum is a critical component of the technological capabilities that enable economic activity and protect national security. Wireless communications and associated data applications establish a foundation for high‑wage jobs and national prosperity. While American industry continues to extract greater and greater value from spectrum, each technological leap also increases demands on its usage. Those demands have never been greater than today, with the advent of autonomous vehicles and precision agriculture, the expansion of commercial space operations, and the burgeoning Internet of Things signaling a nearly insatiable demand for spectrum access. Moreover, it is imperative that America be first in fifth-generation (5G) wireless technologies — wireless technologies capable of meeting the high-capacity, low-latency, and high-speed requirements that can unleash innovation broadly across diverse sectors of the economy and the public sector. Flexible, predictable spectrum access by the United States Government will help ensure that Federal users can meet current and future mission requirements for a broad range of both communications- and non-communications-based systems.
The Nation can and will ensure security and safety through modern technology. America’s national security depends on technological excellence and the United States Government must continue to have access to the spectrum resources needed to serve the national interest, from protecting the homeland and managing the national airspace, to forecasting severe weather and exploring the frontiers of space. Technological innovation in spectrum usage, moreover, occurs in both the private and public sectors. Federal agencies must thoughtfully consider whether and how their spectrum-dependent mission needs might be met more efficiently and effectively, including through new technology and ingenuity. The United States Government shall continue to look for additional opportunities to share spectrum among Federal and non-Federal entities. The United States Government shall also continue to encourage investment and adoption by Federal agencies of commercial, dual-use, or other advanced technologies that meet mission requirements, including 5G technologies. In doing so, we will take appropriate measures to sustain the radiofrequency environment in which critical United States infrastructure and space systems operate.
Sec. 2. Advancing the National Spectrum Strategy. Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and concurrent with development of the National Spectrum Strategy referred to in section 4 of this memorandum:
(a) Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall report to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), working through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), on their anticipated future spectrum requirements for a time period and in a format specified by the Secretary. Additionally, agencies shall initiate a review of their current frequency assignments and quantification of their spectrum usage in accordance with guidance to be provided by the Secretary. Reporting of information under this section shall be subject to existing safeguards protecting classified, sensitive, and proprietary data. The Secretary may release publicly a summary of information provided by agencies, to the extent consistent with applicable law.
(b) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), or the Director’s designee, shall submit a report to the President on emerging technologies and their expected impact on non-Federal spectrum demand.
(c) The Director of OSTP, or the Director’s designee, shall submit a report to the President on recommendations for research and development priorities that advance spectrum access and efficiency.
Sec. 3. Within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, working through the NTIA, and in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OSTP, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), shall submit to the President, through the Director of the National Economic Council and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a report (to be made public to the extent practicable and consistent with applicable law) on the status of existing efforts and planned near- to mid-term spectrum repurposing initiatives.
Sec. 4. Within 270 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary, working through the NTIA, and in consultation with OMB, OSTP, and the FCC, and other Federal entities, as appropriate, shall submit to the President, through the Director of the National Economic Council and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a long-term National Spectrum Strategy that includes legislative, regulatory, or other policy recommendations to:
(a) increase spectrum access for all users, including on a shared basis, through transparency of spectrum use and improved cooperation and collaboration between Federal and non-Federal spectrum stakeholders;
(b) create flexible models for spectrum management, including standards, incentives, and enforcement mechanisms that promote efficient and effective spectrum use, including flexible-use spectrum licenses, while accounting for critical safety and security concerns;
(c) use ongoing research, development, testing, and evaluation to develop advanced technologies, innovative spectrum-utilization methods, and spectrum-sharing tools and techniques that increase spectrum access, efficiency, and effectiveness;
(d) build a secure, automated capability to facilitate assessments of spectrum use and expedite coordination of shared access among Federal and non-Federal spectrum stakeholders; and
(e) improve the global competitiveness of United States terrestrial and space-related industries and augment the mission capabilities of Federal entities through spectrum policies, domestic regulations, and leadership in international forums.
Sec. 5. Spectrum Strategy Task Force. The Chief Technology Officer and the Director of the National Economic Council, or their designees, shall co-chair a Spectrum Strategy Task Force that shall include representatives from OMB, OSTP, the National Security Council, the National Space Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers. The Spectrum Strategy Task Force shall work with the Secretary and the NTIA in coordinating implementation of this memorandum. In carrying out its coordination functions, the Spectrum Strategy Task Force shall consult with the FCC.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to require the disclosure of classified information, law enforcement sensitive information, proprietary information, or other information that must be protected as required by law or in the interests of national security or public safety.
(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(e) The Presidential Memoranda of June 28, 2010 (Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution) and June 14, 2013 (Expanding America’s Leadership in Wireless Innovation) are hereby revoked.
(f) The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Article updated Oct. 26 with additional comments from CCA.