[FedCom] NTIA Launches Online Guide to Feds' Wireless Spectrum Use

[bernieS]

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/NTIA-Wireless-Spectrum-Webpage.html

NTIA Launches Online Guide to Feds' Wireless Spectrum Use

BY: News Staff | April 11, 2014

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) 
has published an online guide to the wireless spectrum being used by 
federal agencies.

Launched on April 11, Spectrum.gov gives readers a glimpse into how 
the federal government is using its allotment of wireless frequencies 
in the 225 MHz to 5 GHz bands. The new resource also provides a map 
showing what federal systems are using spectrum throughout the U.S.

"Just as commercial broadband providers are facing growing demands 
for spectrum to fuel the explosion of new wireless devices, federal 
agencies' demand for spectrum also is growing," said Karl Nebbia, 
NTIA associate administrator, Office of Spectrum Management, in a 
blog post announcing the new website. "NTIA's compendium shows 
agencies need spectrum for crucial tasks ranging from military flight 
testing to air traffic control to weather forecasting."

Each spectrum use report is categorized by sections of particular 
bandwidth. Links to each band lead to a .pdf document that gives an 
overview of the band, how the frequencies within it are allocated, 
current federal agency use, and where applicable, planned future use.

The shrinking availability of wireless spectrum has been a hot topic 
over the past several years as more communications devices have 
entered the marketplace and need bandwidth to operate. The wireless 
industry has been pushing for release of more spectrum to accommodate 
private-sector demand.

Nebbia indicated in his blog post that Spectrum.gov would be updated 
regularly, calling the site "an important resource" as the federal 
government looks to repurpose federal spectrum for commercial use.