Key Spectrum Advisory Group Is Back; Meeting Planned for Early October
The Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee is gearing up for its first meeting since being rechartered, likely in early fall, said CSMAC members and federal officials Monday. CSMAC last met in July 2018 (see 1807240057). “We are finalizing the topics and questions that we wish the CSMAC to address prior to our first meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for early October,” an NTIA spokesperson emailed: The location and exact time haven't been decided.
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NTIA, meanwhile, announced a spectrum policy symposium Sept. 10 at the National Press Club. “The program will provide updates on efforts to develop the National Spectrum Strategy as required by the Oct. 25, 2018 Presidential Memorandum,” NTIA said Monday. It sponsored a similar symposium in June 2018 (see 1806130080), under then-Administrator David Redl.
The group at one point appeared to be on life support (see 1903280060). Then in April, the Commerce Department named members and new co-chairs -- Jennifer Warren, vice president at Lockheed Martin, and Charla Rath, consultant and former Verizon executive (see 1904180058). Shortly after, Redl resigned. Questions continue about the administration’s spectrum strategy, especially in light of key White House departures (see 1908090070).
“Having CSMAC back at this critical juncture is perfect timing,” said Cooley’s Robert McDowell: “With the recent turnover of spectrum officials at NTIA and the White House, sensible leadership from any quarter would be positive and constructive, especially since the administration is delayed in releasing its spectrum plan.”
“All of us are anxious to get started,” said Mark Crosby, CSMAC member and president of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance. “I know Charla and certainly admire her expertise here,” said Larry Downes, public policy project director at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy.
Over the years, CSMAC has tackled some difficult issues, especially sharing between federal and commercial licensees. The group did some of the legwork that led to the AWS-3 auction, the biggest auction in FCC history. In recent years, the group’s focus narrowed to mostly engineering issues.
“It is great to see CSMAC up and running again,” said Jeffrey Westling, fellow at the R Street Institute. “As we see more wireless services deployed in the marketplace, difficult technical questions will likely arise that may be challenging for the NTIA to address without the expertise and insights of the private sector,” he said. “The 24 GHz kerfuffle, for example, could have served as a good issue for the committee to engage with by providing technical policy recommendations and industry perspectives to the NTIA. CSMAC is also uniquely suited to give proactive advice to the administration."
The panel appeared to be among the advisory committees eligible for elimination under a recent executive order. President Donald Trump's EO in June directed all departments and agencies to eliminate one-third of their current Federal Advisory Committee Act-authorized groups by Sept. 30 (see 1906140067). Committees authorized by statute aren't eligible for elimination. The Commerce Department didn't comment.
CSMAC, which the Commerce Department oversees, and the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, under the Department of Homeland Security, were presidentially authorized, according to the FACA database. The U.S. International Telecommunication Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, both under the State Department, were created under agency authority.
Agency recommendations were due to OMB by Aug. 1. An administration official emailed that it received the recommendations from agencies and is "in the process of reviewing those recommendations." The order doesn’t apply to the FCC because it generally exempts independent regulatory agencies.