WRC Was a Success for U.S. on Several Levels, NTIA's Cooper Tells CSMAC

The World Radiocommunication Conference was a success for the U.S., Charles Cooper, NTIA Office of Spectrum Management associate administrator, assured the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee at its meeting Tuesday. CSMAC approved unanimously three reports, on the citizens broadband radio service band, 6G (see 2312180052) and electromagnetic compatibility improvements. While this meeting was the last under CSMAC’s current term, NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said the group will be rechartered.

Concluding last week in Dubai, the WRC harmonized spectrum for 5G “across the Americas” in the 3.3-3.4 and 3.6-3.8 GHz bands, “while ensuring protections for important incumbent radiolocation radar systems,” Cooper said. Decisions on space science items “will help address impacts on climate … enabling current exploration satellite services to explore the polar icecaps and to support greater understanding of space weather,” he said.

WRC also agreed on spectrum allocations for geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems, “including through inner-satellite links and upgraded regulatory procedures to support increased deployment of large non-geostationary constellations,” Cooper said. “We also took steps to ensure protection of radiolocation radar systems that are critical for national defense and identified new frequencies for aviation and maritime transportation safety programs,” he said. WRC was able to make new aeronautical mobile service allocations that will support International Civil Aviation Organization-standardized systems in remote and oceanic areas, he said.

WRC agreed on about 20 future agenda items for the 2027 WRC, including spectrum for wireless communications on the lunar service and between the moon’s service and lunar orbit, Cooper said: “This will advance the goals of the Artemis Accords as we work with our partners over the coming years to establish a presence on the moon. This is a big deal.” The accords are part of a U.S.-led effort to return humans to the Moon by 2025.

The next WRC will also take up additional space weather questions “along with many, many satellite issues,” Cooper said. In addition to future needs for international mobile telecommunications (IMT), the next WRC will examine “both ends of the allocation table, with studies for radiolocation,” he said. The U.S. was surprised to find that in some parts of the world there is little understanding of NGSO's benefits, and that will need to be addressed, he said.

WRC saw record participation, with 4,000 delegates representing more than 160 countries and sector members, Cooper said. Interest in the WRC illustrates “the growing demand for spectrum access,” he said.

National Spectrum Strategy

Release of the national spectrum strategy was a “watershed moment for spectrum management” in the U.S., Davidson said. The strategy “charts a course for greater collaboration and recognizes the need to harness innovation and technology,” he said. One lesson from CSMAC is the importance of collaboration, he said. “Our work does not end here.”

Davidson praised CSMAC’s work in each report. “In CBRS, we asked you to take stock of the service after several years of deployment; you responded by asking pretty comprehensive questions to a broad base of stakeholders,” he said. CBRS has been “successful and viable but can also evolve and scale further,” he said. The spectrum strategy makes clear the importance of dynamic sharing, he said.

While 6G is years away, it is definitely not too early … to prepare for it, Davidson said. People ask for examples of what 6G will look like “and I think you have helped us with that,” he said.

Scott Harris, NTIA senior spectrum adviser, said he can’t think of a time when the spectrum world was busier and more “high profile” than today. “I’ve spent a year, more, talking about the national spectrum strategy and I don’t know why I should stop, right? It’s working for me,” he joked. Harris said he’s not sure if the strategy had any effect on the WRC, but “more than a few delegations had actually read it before the conference began and had requested further briefings.”

Harris noted that NTIA asked for comment, not later than Jan. 2, on an implementation plan for the strategy (see 2311290038). The agency has begun meetings with stakeholders, he said. NTIA got “invaluable advice from the public on the national spectrum strategy and … I expect no difference here,” he said. NTIA will consider comments submitted after the deadline, but they will have more impact if filed on time, he said.

NTIA plans its next Spectrum Policy Symposium for Feb. 1 at the National Press Club, Harris said: “It will feature lots of discussion of the presidential memo, the strategy and most importantly … the implementation of the strategy.” A Federal Register notice rechartering CSMAC is expected in the next few weeks, he said.

In response to a question from CSMAC member Karl Nebbia, Harris said the new Interagency Spectrum Advisory Council included in the strategy is intended to replace the federal Policy and Plans Steering Group (PPSG) and to include “more senior officials.”

Nebbia, a former NTIA official, said one challenge for the PPSG was that “as the discussions get more detailed,” the most senior people are no longer “interested in attending.” NTIA is aware of that, but the White House decided “we needed an advisory forum of senior people given the import of some of the issues that are now being tackled,” Harris said.