[SMCARA] President Bush orders evaluation of Radio Spectrum

[JD Delancy]

Thanks Brian for sharing.  

Another possible threat to the amateur radio spectrums and allocations.  


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: President Bush orders evaluation of Radio Spectrum
Date: Fri,  6 Jun 2003 12:51:32 -0500
From: Brian Murrey <brian@iquest.net>

While trying to remain calm, I still get a sick feeling in my gut.

WASHINGTON (AP) President Bush ordered a broad review Thursday of how 
government and industry can better use radio airwaves, which are growing 
congested by signals from cell phones, wireless gadgets and the military. 

Bush directed the Commerce Department to lead the yearlong initiative and 
produce recommendations for legislation and other policy changes to promote 
more efficient use of airwaves. 

The radio spectrum is a ''vital and limited national resource'' needed for 
economic growth, scientific research and homeland security, Bush said. 

''The existing legal and policy framework for spectrum management has not kept 
pace with the dramatic changes in technology,'' Bush said in a memo to federal 
agencies. ''We must unlock the economic value and entrepreneurial potential of 
U.S. spectrum assets while ensuring that sufficient spectrum is available to 
support critical government functions.'' 

Bush said the way government now reviews every change in airwaves use is ''a 
process that is often slow and inflexible and can discourage the introduction 
of new technology.'' 

The Commerce Department is to hold a series of public meetings to develop 
recommendations for airwaves use by local governments and industry. To study 
federal spectrum use, that department will guide a task force that includes 
representatives from more than a dozen executive branch departments and 
agencies. 

The cell phone and wireless industries, in need of increasing amounts of 
airwaves space, welcomed the announcement. 

''This is probably the most comprehensive look at spectrum policy the 
government has ever taken,'' said Tom Wheeler, president of the Cellular 
Telecommunications & Internet Association. ''The tools we have for formulating 
spectrum policy are broken and we look forward to working with the task 
force.'' 

The Federal Communications Commission, which oversees U.S. airwaves not used by 
the federal government, will have a consulting role in the review. 

In April, the FCC doubled the airwaves available for emergency and public 
safety workers, giving a boost to police seeking better crisis communications 
and firefighters wanting to send video from inside burning buildings. 

The agency decided last month to allow cell phone companies and others to lease 
unused portions of their airwaves, letting them make deals for slices of 
spectrum to fill cell phone dead zones or provide wireless services to certain 
locations for limited times. 

On the Net: 

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ 

Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov