第七次年度进展报告重新安置联邦无线电系统1710 1755mhz频段

Seventh AnnualProgress Report U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PENNY PRITZKERSECRETARY OF COMMERCE LAWRENCE E. STRICKLINGASSISTANT SECRETARY FORCOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION March 2014 RELOCATION OF FEDERAL RADIO SYSTEMS FROMTHE 1710-1755 MHz SPECTRUM BAND:SEVENTH ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) submits thisreport pursuant to Section 207 of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA),Title II of P.L. 108-494, which requires annual reporting on federal agencies’ progress tovacate certain wireless communications systems from the 1710 megahertz (MHz) to 1755MHz radio spectrum that has been reallocated to commercial use. The NTIA publishedthe first annual report to Congress on April 17, 2008. That report covered relocationactivity occurring over the period March 2007 through December 2007. This annualreport documents the cumulative progress since the commencement of relocation activityin March 2007 through December 2013. As created by the CSEA, the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) provides a centralized andstreamlined funding mechanism through which federal agencies can recover the costsassociated with relocating their radio communications systems from spectrum reallocatedand authorized to be auctioned for commercial purposes. The CSEA authorizes the useof auction proceeds to cover the relocation costs of federal agencies. The CSEA designates 1710-1755 MHz as “eligible frequencies” for which federalrelocation costs may be paid from the SRF. In November 2002, the NTIA and FederalCommunications Commission (FCC) jointly reallocated for non-federal use the 1710-1755 MHz band and the FCC designated the spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services(AWS). In September 2006, the FCC concluded the first auction of licenses for AWS inthe 1710-1755 MHz band paired with the 2110-2155 MHz band. In August 2008, theFCC held a second auction of licenses that were not sold in the first auction. The twoAWS auctions raised over $13.7 billion in net winning bids. Auction proceedsattributable to federal frequencies were deposited in the SRF in accordance with theCSEA. For the two auctions, a total of 115 different bidders participated and the FCCissued a total of 1,122 AWS licenses. In February 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation withNTIA, submitted a report to Congress detailing a transfer of $1.008 billion from the SRFto 12 federal agencies to relocate their wireless systems from the 1710-1755 MHz band.OMB transferred this amount to the agencies in March 2007. Between 2007 and 2012,OMB, consistent with the provisions of the CSEA, in consultation with NTIA, and afterCongressional notification, made several additional transfers from the SRF to agencies tocover additional unanticipated relocation expenses. In October 2008, OMB issued guidance to federal agencies participating in the SRFspecifying the information they must provide when requesting additional resources or anextension of their approved project timeframes.1OMB directed the agencies to adhere totheir original cost and timeline estimates to the extent possible. However, in unforeseencircumstances, where agencies need additional resources or time to vacate the auctionedspectrum, Section 204 of the CSEA authorizes OMB, in consultation with NTIA, toapprove changes to the timeframe and cost estimates associated with relocation of federalsystems. This report details, on a system-by-system basis, the estimated relocation costs, the actualcosts incurred, and the amounts paid from the SRF. The report is based on datasubmitted by the federal agencies to NTIA. All 12 federal agencies have reported that they have ceased operations of their systems inthe 1710-1755 MHz band, clearing the way for new commercial licensees. To date, fiveagencies (United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment, Department of Transportation (DOT)/ Federal Aviation Administration(FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Tennessee ValleyAuthority) have completed the relocation effort and achieved comparable capability ofsystems by relocating to new frequency assignments or by utilizing alternativetechnology. As required by the CSEA, NTIA has notified the FCC of these results. Some agencies will continue to expend SRF funds until they have established comparablecapabilities. NTIA will notify the FCC when these actions are completed. Someagencies have returned or plan to return excess relocation funds. For example, theDepartment of the Interior (DOI) has returned more than $2.5 million. The Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS),Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, United States Postal Service, DOI, andthe Department of Energy (DOE) have vacated from the 1710-1755 MHz band entirely,where required to do so.2However, these agencies continue to spend SRF funds tocomplete their transitions to reach comparable capability of syste