The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reports...

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Trump Administration has cleared plans to study the 4.4 GHz band for full-power commercial licensed use, a key milestone in the Administration’s efforts to advance America’s 6G leadership.  With this final study package being notified to Congress, the Administration has cleared the last milestone to begin four simultaneous repurposing band studies—an unprecedented accomplishment.

“Congress and President Trump directed NTIA to move with urgency to reallocate federal spectrum for commercial use and ensure the United States leads the world in 6G,” said Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. “NTIA has responded to that call. With today’s announcement on 4.4 GHz, every one of our four pipeline bands is now advancing simultaneously—a historic first that demonstrates we are operating with the speed and precision needed to fulfill our mandate.”

Last year, Congress gave NTIA a first-of-its-kind mandate: identify 500 MHz of federal spectrum for commercial use in five years. In December, the President went further, directing NTIA to complete its study of the 7.125-7.4 GHz band within 12 months. These mandates are central to ensuring the U.S. leads in 6G.

Incumbent federal agencies need the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) to fund the costs associated with spectrum relocation, but they must first submit detailed study plans. These plans establish a clear, executable roadmap for the engineering studies that must be completed for NTIA to identify spectrum for repurposing while protecting critical federal missions.

The Administration has now approved plans for all four bands under consideration: the 1.6 GHz band, the 2.7 GHz band, the 4.4 GHz band and the 7 GHz band. Approval of the plans triggers a 60-day review period by the Commerce and Appropriations Committees before OMB can release the requested funding. Once this review period passes for the 4.4 GHz band, all four bands will be under study—the most federal spectrum studied for repurposing in history.

NTIA will continue to update the public on progress through its newly revamped spectrum.gov.