Initiative Finds Common Ground on Spectrum Sharing.

• Author: Simpson, David
• Position: Viewpoint

Spectrum is an invaluable national resource that is increasingly congested due to rising demand among commercial and federal users.

The long-term development of better mechanisms for spectrum coexistence between wireless and defense technologies should result in a win-win--supporting commercial wireless services and enhancing capabilities of U.S. forces as they deploy and operate. By expanding cooperation among spectrum stakeholders, we can help ensure that both U.S. national and economic security is maintained and advanced.

Policies that historically have assigned exclusive uses of spectrum may need to be rethought in order to deliver the innovations necessary to maintain U.S. global leadership in increasingly competitive global technologies markets.

In April 2020, the National Defense Industrial Association brought the major wireless and defense technology providers together in an unprecedented fashion to collaborate on a spectrum sharing initiative.

Why bring these two industry segments together? Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord recognized that a much needed technical collaboration between these two industries could encourage deep technical dialogue and partnership. At her request, NDIA launched a spectrum sharing initiative by creating a joint industry working group with the Defense Department serving as a steadfast partner in the ongoing discussions.

The current focus of this working group initiative is to facilitate implementation of the agreement to open the 3450-3550 MHz band to commercial use and to determine whether and how the 3100-3450 MHz band can be effectively shared to meet the requirements of the customers of both the wireless and the aerospace and defense technology providers.

It is a daunting task, but one driven by a vision that better meets the needs of both commercial and federal systems. It will require policy stakeholders and policy makers to consider operational factors and regulatory considerations through more regular, trusted, technical and policy information exchanges.

The near-term imperative to develop a rapid and effective path to 5G use of the 3450-3550 MHz band can serve as a pathfinder and, through lessons learned, inform technical and policy considerations of spectrum sharing approaches in the 3100-3450 MHz band.

In addition to the department's effort to foster a technical dialogue, it has welcomed recommendations for improving regulatory, acquisition and organizational...