2021

January 14, 2021 Working Group 1 (“WG 1”) was tasked with revisiting the terms of the now 15 year oldMemorandum of Understanding between NTIA and the FCC on spectrum.By design, Congressvested each agency with distinct responsibilities for management of the national spectrumresource.Although in the vast majority of cases the two entities have worked cooperatively andeffectively to deliver important benefits to the public, that has not always been the case.Inrecent years, there have been numerous commentaries expressing concern that the current systemcan result in delay or dysfunction. In an effort to update the Memorandum of Understanding, we have focused on ways in which thetwo partner agencies can work more smoothly, cooperatively and efficiently together to achievepositive outcomes for the country moving forward. We do not believe these reforms will solveall of the challenges in our increasingly complex spectrum world, but reform here should be seenas a foundation for future progress. The reforms we recommend include: •Expands the purpose of the MOU to reflect the realities of the importance of spectrum inthe United States overall, including economic, national security, safety and otherwise.•Expands the areas addressed under the MOU to include spectrum planning and sharing,and international issues including those being addressed at the ITU’s WorldRadiocommunication Conference, and standards issues as they relate to spectrum.•Provides for a meeting of the heads of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technologyand NTIA’s Spectrum Management to plan for the next principles’ meeting, as well asincreases and clarifies the time frame for review of routine and non-routine items.•Creates a standing working group spectrum planning and initiatives, including thedevelopment of a common set of metrics and best practices to better assess and predictthe potential for harmful interference.•Notes that the FCC and NTIA should consider creating a joint path for escalation ofcontentious issues arising under the MOU that can be taken on a timely basis.•Includes a three year review period for the MOU to ensure it is reviewed for possibleupdate on a regular basis. Working Group 1 Co-chairs: Jennifer Manner/Mary Brown Andrew RoyBryan TramontCarolyn KahnClaude AikenJeff CohenMark Crosby Audrey AllisonCarl PovelitesChris WeaslerDale HatfieldMariam SorondMark Gibson Mark LewellenMark McHenryMark RacekMichael CalabreseRobert WellerSteve SharkeyThomas DombrowskyWayne PhoelNTIA Liaison: Chris Mattingly(202-482-2692, cmattingly@ntia.gov)