i3 - March/April 2018 - 39

By David Redl

Policy

G U E ST B LO G

agencies. If approved, funding is made
available for the agencies to research ways
that might free up spectrum by combining
operations or otherwise using spectrum
more efficiently and effectively.
On the international front, NTIA
closely coordinates with federal agencies
Assistant Secretary of
in preparation for key international specCommerce for Communications
trum negotiations and standards-setting
and Information, NTIA
activities. This includes intergovernmental
participation in the International Telehe futuristic connected technologies showcased at CES
communication Union, which will hold
2018 were dazzling in their possibility, and highlighted
a World Radiocommunication Conference
the demand for robust and ubiquitous wireless networks.
next year in Geneva, Switzerland, to
examine harmonization of spectrum for
Access to high-speed connectivity has driven economic growth
AWS in the millimeter wave bands, as
and innovation in this country and around the world, and with
the advent of 5th generation wireless systems, we're poised to take well as for the operation of unlicensed
radio local area networks - think Wi-Fi -
another leap. The deployment of 5G will mean significant speed
in the 5 GHz band.
upgrades, facilitating growth of Internet of Things applications,
Even as demand for 5G infrastructure
self-driving cars, connected homes and improvements in health
grows, many areas in the U.S. still don't
have the foundational broadband infracare monitoring, and inventions yet to be devised.
structure needed to compete in a 21st cenThe National Telecommunications and
NTIA, the FCC and DoD meet regularly tury economy. We need to do everything
Information Administration (NTIA) plays with WinnForum to establish the stanwe can to encourage infrastructure developa key role in pushing America's 5G leaderment. One way to do this: Congress and
dards and certification process that will
ship forward. We support national and
the executive branch can
help define the protection
international efforts to harmonize specwork with private industry
of federal radar systems
trum and set technology standards, and
to look at how federal
- an essential step to
work with industry to help remove obstaaction might address the
getting CBRS off the
cles to deploying the network infrastrucpatchwork of permitting,
ground. The 3.5 GHz
ture needed for 5G to flourish. We've been
siting and other regulatory
model demonstrates how
looking at bands up and down the freprovisions, in order to
we can move toward
quency allocation chart to identify options more dynamic sharing,
potentially streamline or
for meeting these needs. Our extensive
eliminate any rules that
even as we continue to
experience in working with government
pose unnecessary barriers
protect key government
agencies will help streamline the process
to deployment.
systems that are vital for
for assessing which bands can be opened
NTIA also is committed
national security and
up - from the millimeter wave range all
to boosting deployment by
other public services. The
We help remove actively reducing barriers
the way down to the low bands - for
collaborative work in the
obstacles to
commercial uses.
to deployment on public
3.5 GHz process points
deploying
Up high in the millimeter wave range,
lands and in governmenttoward a promising future
NTIA continues to support the Federal
owned buildings, a target
for managing our nation's
the network
Communication Commission's (FCC)
goal in President Trump's
spectrum resources.
infrastructure
Spectrum Frontiers proceeding by collaborecent Executive Order
In the low-band, the
needed for 5G
rating on an approach for sharing between Spectrum Pipeline Act
and Presidential Memo.
to flourish.
federal and non-federal users in the 37 gigaI am passionate about specrequires NTIA to identify
hertz band. If we get this right, it could serve for auction 30 megahertz
trum policy - the next
as a model to inform how sharing might
generation of wireless conof federal spectrum below
be done in other millimeter wave bands.
nectivity is poised to unlock fantastic inno3 GHz by 2022, and to identify an addiIn the mid-band range, NTIA is working
tional 100 megahertz beyond that. As part vations and life-changing technologies, and
with the FCC, the Department of Defense of this effort, NTIA, along with the Office
America has been leading the way when it
and the wireless industry to support the
comes to developing 5G. We must do everyof Management and Budget and the FCC,
introduction of the Citizens Broadband
thing we can this year and beyond to accelhas been evaluating proposed "pipeline
Radio Service (CBRS) in the 3.5 GHz band.
plans" that have been submitted by federal erate America's 5G leadership.

David Redl:
Stepping Stones
to a 5G Future

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C TA . t e c h / i 3

MARCH/APRIL 2018

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i3 - March/April 2018

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