The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seek to evaluate innovative methods for spectrum sharing among disparate users to enable more intensive use of the finite radio spectrum.
This Public Notice seeks comment on a wide range of issues that are integral to the creation of a spectrum-sharing innovation test-bed. NTIA is also soliciting comment on many of these same issues through a Notice of Inquiry.
The test-bed could be used for testing dynamic spectrum access techniques, developing new technologies for public safety and streamlining spectrum coordination processes between federal and non-federal users.
In June 2004, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued two reports that both recommended the FCC and the NTIA develop a spectrum-sharing innovation test-bed for use in planning how spectrum can best be shared between federal and non-federal users. Specifically, the test-bed recommendation states:
“Each segment should be approximately 10MHz for assignment on a shared basis for federal and non-federal use. The spectrum to be identified for this pilot program could come from bands currently allocated on either an exclusive or shared basis. Two years after the inception of the pilot program,NTIA and the FCC should provide reports outlining the results and suggesting appropriate procedures for expanding the program as appropriate.”
To assist the commission in developing its recommendations on this issue, interested parties are requested to submit comments and information on a test-bed program to study the feasibility of increasing the efficient use of spectrum that is shared between federal and non-federal users. In this regard, parties are encouraged to file comments on related issues even if they do not respond directly to any particular question posed.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
