Key Issues > Wireless Broadband Spectrum Management
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Wireless Broadband Spectrum Management

The growth of commercial wireless broadband services, including smart phones and tablet computers, and increases in government missions using radio frequency spectrum have increased the demand for spectrum. However, since the amount of spectrum is limited, there is concern about adequate access to meet future needs...
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Radio frequency spectrum enables an array of wireless communications services critical to the U.S. economy and government functions, such as scientific research, national defense, homeland security, and other vital public safety activities. However, nearly all usable spectrum has been allocated either by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for federal use or by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for commercial and nonfederal use.

Examples of Services by Frequency Band

Examples of Services by Frequency Band

There are a number of approaches that might help address spectrum needs, including:

  • Repurpose spectrum to high-value uses – Historical allocations can leave spectrum tied to outmoded and less valuable services. To accommodate new uses, FCC often changes its rules to move spectrum from an existing use, a process known as repurposing. In making these decisions, FCC considers uses that best serve the public interest, including factors such as economic and social value.
  • Increase spectrum sharing – At any given time or place, spectrum lies fallow or is only intermittently used. Some federal advisors, agency officials, and experts have advocated greater incentives and opportunities for sharing spectrum by federal and nonfederal users.
  • Improve receiver performance - To manage spectrum, FCC and NTIA have historically focused on transmitters—the equipment that emits signals. But improved receivers can also help promote more efficient use of spectrum.

Congress, FCC, and NTIA have taken many actions to improve the efficient use of spectrum. For example, with Congressional authorization, FCC adopted auctions to assign many spectrum licenses. In addition to helping promote more efficient use of spectrum, these auctions have generated nearly $52 billion for the U.S. Treasury from 1994 through the end of 2013.

Illustration and Examples of Spectrum Sharing

Illustration and Examples of Spectrum Sharing

Looking for our recommendations? Click on any report to find each associated recommendation and its current implementation status.
Spectrum Management: FCC's Use and Enforcement of Buildout Requirements

GAO-14-236: Published: Feb 26, 2014. Publicly Released: Mar 28, 2014.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established buildout requirements—which require a licensee to build the necessary infrastructure and put the assigned spectrum to use within a set amount of time—for most wireless services, including cellular and personal communication services. FCC tailors the buildout requirements it sets for a wireless service based on the physical characteris...

Spectrum Management: Federal Relocation Costs and Auction Revenues

GAO-13-472: Published: May 22, 2013. Publicly Released: May 22, 2013.

Some federal agencies underestimated the costs to relocate communication systems from the 1710-1755 megahertz (MHz) band, although auction revenues appear to exceed relocation costs by over $5 billion. As of March 2013, actual relocation costs have exceeded estimated costs by about $474 million, or 47 percent. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) expects agencies t...

Spectrum Management: Further Consideration of Options to Improve Receiver Performance Needed

GAO-13-265: Published: Feb 22, 2013. Publicly Released: Feb 22, 2013.

Manufacturers and commercial licensees have taken a variety of actions to improve receiver performance. For some services, industry associations-- comprised of manufacturers, commercial licensees, and others--have developed voluntary standards that are often used to design and procure receivers, such as those in cell phones and televisions, and to help improve receiver performance. Stakeholders al...

Spectrum Management: Incentives, Opportunities, and Testing Needed to Enhance Spectrum Sharing

GAO-13-7: Published: Nov 14, 2012. Publicly Released: Nov 14, 2012.

Some spectrum users may lack incentive to share spectrum or otherwise use it efficiently, and federal agencies and private users currently cannot easily identify spectrum available for sharing. Typically, paying the market price for a good or service helps to inform users of the value of the good and provides an incentive for efficient use. Federal agencies, however, pay only a small fee to the NT...

Commercial Spectrum: Plans and Actions to Meet Future Needs, Including Continued Use of Auctions

GAO-12-118: Published: Nov 23, 2011. Publicly Released: Dec 23, 2011.

Since 1994, FCC has made over 520 megahertz (a measure of quantity) of spectrum available for new uses, such as wireless broadband, through a process that can be lengthy. Because most of the usable spectrum in the United States has been allocated to existing uses, FCC must change its rules to move spectrum from an existing use to a new use, a process known as repurposing spectrum. Yet, this proces...

More Reports

Spectrum Management: Preliminary Findings on Federal Relocation Costs and Auction Revenues

GAO-13-563T: Published: Apr 24, 2013. Publicly Released: Apr 24, 2013.

Actual costs to relocate federal users from the 1710-1755 megahertz (MHz) band have exceeded the original $1 billion estimate by about $474 million as of March 2013, although auction revenues appear to exceed relocation costs by over $5 billion. Actual relocation costs exceed estimated costs for various reasons, including unforeseen challenges and some agencies not following the National Telecommu...

Spectrum Management: FCC's Licensing Approach in the 11, 18, and 23 Gigahertz Bands Currently Supports Spectrum Availability and Efficiency

GAO-13-78R: Published: Nov 20, 2012. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2012.

FCC has generally ensured the availability of licenses and encouraged the efficient use of spectrum through its various regulations. Specifically, stakeholders noted that the Commission's rules on frequency coordination, buildout requirements, and operating requirements each ensure availability of licenses and encourage efficient use of spectrum. First, FCC's requirement to coordinate new links wi...

Spectrum Management: Federal Government's Use of Spectrum and Preliminary Information on Spectrum Sharing

GAO-12-1018T: Published: Sep 13, 2012. Publicly Released: Sep 13, 2012.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is responsible for governmentwide federal spectrum management, but GAO reported in 2011 that NTIA’s efforts in this area had been limited. In 2003, the President directed NTIA to develop plans identifying federal and nonfederal spectrum needs, and in 2008, NTIA issued the federal plan. GAO found it did not identify governme...

Spectrum Management: NTIA Planning and Processes Need Strengthening to Promote the Efficient Use of Spectrum by Federal Agencies

GAO-11-352: Published: Apr 12, 2011. Publicly Released: May 12, 2011.

Radio frequency spectrum enables vital wireless communications services used by the federal government, businesses, and consumers. Spectrum capacity is necessary for wireless broadband (high-speed Internet access) and broadband deployment will boost the nation's capabilities in many important areas. As the demand for spectrum continues to increase, there is concern about adequate access to meet fu...

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