WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Wednesday is launching an work to recognize considerable wireless spectrum that can be repurposed for sophisticated technologies requirements and soaring U.S. wireless demand.

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information and facts Administration (NTIA) is establishing a National Spectrum Technique with a aim to recognize at least 1,500 megahertz of spectrum to study for prospective new utilizes.

“Currently spectrum plays a central function in American life in a way that it by no means did ahead of, from cellphones to aviation security to climate prediction,” NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson stated in an interview with Reuters.

He stated the 1,600 megahertz aim more than a decade was achievable but hard.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated NTIA, which jointly manages U.S. spectrum with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is in search of public input to recognize “new spectrum bands for prospective repurposing that will spur competitors and innovation for years to come.”

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The approach will address existing and future spectrum requirements, like fixed and mobile wireless broadband, subsequent-generation satellite communications and other space-primarily based systems sophisticated transportation and industrial and industrial applications.

It will also address wireless health-related devices and telemedicine, the World wide web of Points and wise cities, and crucial government utilizes like national defense, national airspace, vital infrastructure and climate monitoring and forecasting, Davidson stated.

Congress final week let the FCC’s authority to auction wireless spectrum lapse for the very first time in 3 decades, prompting some lawmakers to rapidly restore the authority that has raised much more than $200 billion in proceeds for the U.S. government.

Demand for spectrum use is soaring as are planned new utilizes like connected automobiles. Mobile U.S. wireless information visitors rose 20% in 2021.

Davidson stated a contentious dispute more than 5G C-Band spectrum and aviation use showed market and government recognize “we require a coordinated strategy” to managing existing and future spectrum use.

“We’ve got 6G networks coming, new mega-constellations of satellites, connected automobiles, the online of issues – all of that demands new utilizes of spectrum,” Davidson stated.

Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Robert Birsel

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