DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS STRATEGY FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No: NR-091-14
February 20, 2014
DoD Releases Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy

The Department of Defense announced today the release of its Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy (EMS) to increase available spectrum in order to meet growing demand from the commercial wireless industry while maintaining critical military capabilities.

“The Department’s Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy addresses the ever increasing need for spectrum to achieve national security goals,” said Teri Takai, DoD chief information officer. “This strategy also addresses short and long-term spectrum challenges as it relates to the growing US demand for wireless broadband services. To achieve the balance required between national security and economic growth, DoD will continue to work in close collaboration with federal regulatory agencies and policymakers, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Federal Communications Commission, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), as well as with commercial industry.
Together we must identify ways to make more spectrum available for commercial use, and find technologies that enhance spectrum sharing, all while improving how DoD accesses spectrum, where and when needed to ensure mission success.”

The DoD EMS Strategy and its supporting roadmap and action plan will establish key goals and objectives that focus on developing systems that are efficient, flexible, and adaptable in their use of the spectrum; increasing our operational agility in use of the spectrum; and participating in the development of national and international policies and regulations needed to enable these improvements. The strategy follows the release of a memorandum issued in 2010 by President Obama titled “Unleashing the Wireless Broadband Revolution,” which requires 500 MHz of spectrum be made available for commercial use by 2020 and one issued in June 2013 titled “Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation” which directed federal agencies and offices to accelerate efforts to allow and encourage shared access to spectrum allocated for federal use. The president mandated that federal agencies free up a significant portion of wireless spectrum so that it can be used by individuals and businesses to spur domestic economic growth and help keep the U.S. on top of the technological hierarchy.

“In order to reach balanced decisions about relocating from or sharing spectrum, we need time, funding and comparable spectrum,” said Ms. Takai. “Through the established goals and objectives of the EMS Strategy and our close work with the White House OSTP, the NTIA and industry partners, we are confident in our ability to meet the requirements set forth by the president while maintaining the needs of our nation’s military requirements.”