FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2009

TIA Advises NTIA on Improving Its Processes for Federal Spectrum Realloction to Commercial Entities

Recommendations Will Speed Transition of Underutilized Federal Spectrum for Commercial Use and Maximize Commercial Technologies for the Benefit of Federal Users

Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) called upon the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to revise its Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) process by increasing certainty among stakeholders in spectrum relocation processes, conducting an inventory of Federal spectrum used for terrestrial telecommunications systems that may be suitable for allocation for and sharing with commercial use, balancing the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) "same functionality" rule so that Federal users are provided the best technologies, and educating Federal agencies on how best to address their spectrum needs and identify spectrum available for commercial use.

In Comments today, TIA made clear that limited commercial spectrum resources will chill innovation and slow the provision of new wireless services to all Americans. In itemizing key steps to improve the CSEA process, TIA made clear that a spectrum inventory of Federal use of spectrum for terrestrial telecommunications systems is central to the effort to maximize spectrum use. TIA further called for NTIA to work with all Federal agencies to educate Federal users about the need for and opportunities inherent in better spectrum management.

"Wireless innovations are deeply impacted by spectrum availability. Given the limited and fragmented nature of current commercial spectrum allocations, continued evolution of wireless technologies and services will be severely hampered," said Danielle Coffey, TIA Vice President for Government Affairs. "With the authority to transition underutilized Federal spectrum for commercial use under the CSEA, NTIA plays a vital role in the future growth of mobile broadband; it has the ability to develop a plan to create an inventory of Federal spectrum used for terrestrial telecommunications systems that can be allocated to and shared with commercial entities, and apply its authority under CSEA to make more spectrum available," Coffey continued.

TIA also urged NTIA to conduct the CSEA process with more transparent rules and efficient procedural efforts. Further, it urged NTIA to flexibly apply the recent OMB "same functionality rule," which limits the technologies that can be provided to federal through spectrum auction funds to those that will merely maintain comparable capability of systems. "The ‘same functionality rule' can serve a sound purpose of limiting government waste, but can also perpetuate such waste if federal users are required to purchase outdated technologies merely to ensure that they receive no additional benefits of new ICT innovations," Coffey said. "Therefore, NTIA should apply this rule in a way that allows for Federal use of the best technologies while maintaining costs below the funds received in spectrum auctions."

TIA's Comments have been posted on its filings page at tiaonline.org.

For more information on this matter, please contact Patrick Sullivan at +1.202.346.3244 or psullivan@tiaonline.org.

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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.

TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM^® tradeshow  and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

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