mmWave Coalition Urges NTIA to Broaden Spectrum Access
January 2019
The mmWave Coalition submitted comments to urge the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to facilitate greater access to spectrum above 95 GHz for non-Federal use. At present, with minor exceptions, no licensed or unlicensed use of this spectrum is allowed under FCC rules. NTIA policies are key for access to these bands.
The
Coalition strongly advocates that spectrum policy changes are essential
for the international competitiveness of the United States. Outside the
US, R&D efforts are underway to exploit the unique characteristics of the
millimeter wave frequencies.
The spectrum above 95 GHz is very different than the lower spectrum where
many basic concepts of spectrum policy were developed over the past 80 years or
so. Some of these technical differences
include propagation characteristics that become much more dependent
on directional antennas and encourage the development of adaptive
beam-forming.
Many of our foreign economic competitors are actively pursuing use of this spectrum with coordinated government supported R&D and supportive national spectrum policies.