Spectrum Management: NTIA Planning and Processes Need Strengthening to Promote the Efficient Use of Spectrum by Federal Agencies
GAO-11-352
Published: Apr 12, 2011. Publicly Released: May 12, 2011.
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Highlights
Radio frequency spectrum enables vital wireless communications services used by the federal government, businesses, and consumers. Spectrum capacity is necessary for wireless broadband (high-speed Internet access) and broadband deployment will boost the nation's capabilities in many important areas. As the demand for spectrum continues to increase, there is concern about adequate access to meet future needs. This requested report examines (1) how the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is managing spectrum needs of federal agencies, (2) how federal agencies are using and managing assigned spectrum, and (3) what steps NTIA has taken to meet recent initiatives aimed at making spectrum available for broadband. GAO reviewed NTIA's spectrum management documents; surveyed the 19 federal agencies comprising the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee; and interviewed NTIA officials and industry and academic experts.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Telecommunications and Information Administration | To facilitate the effective governmentwide management of federal spectrum use, and to ensure NTIA's previous efforts to develop a federal strategic plan are not diminished, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information should develop an updated plan that includes key elements of a strategic plan, as well as information on how spectrum is being used across the federal government, opportunities to increase efficient use of federally allocated spectrum and infrastructure, an assessment of future spectrum needs, and plans to incorporate these needs in the frequency assignment, equipment certification, and review processes. | Radio frequency spectrum enables wireless communications services used by the federal government, businesses, and consumers, and NTIA is responsible for governmentwide federal spectrum management. In 2011, we reported that although spectrum is a scarce national resource that enables wireless communications services vital to the U.S. economy and to a variety of government functions, NTIA had not developed a strategic, governmentwide vision for managing federal use of this valuable resource. In particular, NTIA had not issued a national spectrum plan to address comprehensive federal and nonfederal spectrum needs as directed by the President in 2003. Instead, NTIA issued in 2008, a federal... plan that had several limitations and did not identify governmentwide spectrum needs. Furthermore, NTIA's primary spectrum management operations did not focus on governmentwide needs and had a limited emphasis on holistic spectrum management. Lacking a strategic vision, NTIA could not ensure that spectrum is being used efficiently by federal agencies. Therefore, we recommended that NTIA develop a federal strategic plan. In October 2018, a Presidential memorandum required, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce, working through NTIA and in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and other agencies, submit to the President a long-term spectrum strategy. The long-term National Spectrum Strategy is to include legislative, regulatory, or other policy recommendations to increase spectrum access for all users, including on a shared basis, through transparency of spectrum use and improved cooperation and collaboration between federal and non-federal spectrum stakeholders. In August 2019, we confirmed that according to NTIA officials, NTIA developed the national spectrum strategy and delivered it to the White House in accordance with the 2018 Presidential memorandum. Reporting on federal agencies' spectrum allocation plans and efforts increases the transparency of NTIA spectrum management efforts.
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| National Telecommunications and Information Administration | To facilitate the effective governmentwide management of federal spectrum use, and to help ensure federal agencies are managing current and future spectrum assignments efficiently, in consultation with IRAC, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information should examine the 5-year assignment review processes and consider best practices to determine if the current approach for collecting and validating data from federal agencies can be streamlined or improved. | NTIA is responsible for managing the federal government's use of spectrum. Federal agencies use spectrum for many purposes, such as emergency communications and national defense, and are supposed to ensure spectrum assignments fulfill established mission needs. The Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC)--an interagency committee of the federal government's primary spectrum users--is responsible for coordinating federal use of spectrum and providing NTIA policy advice on spectrum issues. In April 2011, we reported that NTIA requires federal agencies to review all their spectrum frequency assignments every 5 years and delete assignments not essential to their missions, but these...
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| National Telecommunications and Information Administration | To facilitate the effective governmentwide management of federal spectrum use, and to provide the assurance that accurate and reliable data on federal spectrum use are collected, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information should take interim steps to establish internal controls for management oversight of the accuracy and completeness of currently reported agency data. In developing the new Federal Spectrum Management System, take interim steps to establish internal controls for management oversight of the accuracy and completeness of currently reported agency data. In developing the new Federal Spectrum Management System, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information should incorporate adequate internal controls for validating the accuracy of agency-reported information submitted during the assignment, certification, and frequency assignment review processes. should incorporate adequate internal controls for validating the accuracy of agency-reported information submitted during the assignment, certification, and frequency assignment review processes. | NTIA is responsible for managing the federal government's use of spectrum. In April 2011, we reported that NTIA collects spectrum data from federal agencies in an antiquated data management system that lacks transparency and internal controls. We noted that because NTIA did not have an internal control mechanism in place to validate and verify the accuracy of spectrum-related data submitted by the agencies, NTIA had limited assurance that agency-reported data were accurate and complete. At the time of our review, NTIA said it was developing a new data management system, called the Federal Spectrum Management System (FSMS), to modernize and improve spectrum management processes. We...
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Topics
BroadbandData integrityFederal agenciesFederal records managementInformation resources managementRadio frequency allocationSpectrum efficiencySpectrum managementStrategic planningTelecommunicationsTelecommunications industryWireless