[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9078-9079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04540]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Current and Anticipated Future Spectrum Requirements for 
Commercial Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, and Rural Manufacturing

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA), an agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), invites comment on the radio spectrum 
requirements of commercial agriculture, forestry, mining, and rural 
manufacturing. The information received will advise USDA regarding non-
Federal spectrum policy needs in rural settings and offer insight into 
the technology needs and potential applications in commercial 
agriculture.

DATES: Comments are due on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 
April 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, specify ``Spectrum Requirements.'' You may submit comments by 
the following method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' box, select ``Farm Service Agency'' from the agency drop-down 
menu, then click on ``Submit.'' Information on using Regulations.gov, 
including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, 
and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is 
available through the site's ``User Tips'' link.
    Other Information: Additional information about Farm Service Agency 
and its programs is available on the internet at www.fsa.usda.gov.
    All written comments received will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Fisher; phone: (202) 692-5298 
or email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities who 
require alternative means for communication

[[Page 9079]]

should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 25, 2018, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential 
Memorandum, directing the development of a sustainable spectrum 
strategy for America's future. The Presidential Memorandum stated that 
it ``is the policy of the United States to use radio frequency spectrum 
(spectrum) as efficiently and effectively as possible to help meet our 
economic, national security, science, safety, and other Federal mission 
goals now and in the future'' using ``a balanced, forward-looking, 
flexible, and sustainable approach to spectrum management.''
    Section 2 of the Presidential Memorandum directs Executive 
Departments and agencies to report to the National Telecommunications 
Information Administration (NTIA) on their anticipated future spectrum 
requirements and to initiate a review of their current frequency 
assignments and quantification of their spectrum usage. Section 2 also 
directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to submit 
separate reports to the President ``on emerging technologies and their 
expected impact on non-Federal spectrum demand'' and ``on 
recommendations for research and development priorities that advance 
spectrum access and efficiency.'' Section 4 of the Presidential 
Memorandum also calls for development of a long-term National Spectrum 
Strategy and Section 5 establishes a Spectrum Strategy Task Force.
    USDA invites comment on the radio spectrum demands of commercial 
agriculture, forestry, mining, and rural manufacturing and for any 
potential future USDA support of these economic activities. USDA will 
review the information obtained through comments to advise its 
development of a report to NTIA on anticipated future spectrum 
requirements, and to provide input to OSTP on emerging technologies in 
rural settings and their expected impact on non-Federal spectrum demand 
and on recommendations for research and development priorities that 
advance spectrum access and efficiency.
    The information sought in this Notice of Inquiry will also provide 
USDA with additional insight into the technology needs and potential 
applications for farmers, ranchers, foresters and others who use 
advanced agriculture technology in operations and management. These 
tools are considered essential for American producers to meet world 
demand for agricultural products in the future. Accordingly, the 
importance of broadband service--wired and wireless--to farms was 
recognized as part of the scoring criteria for the recently-announced 
USDA ReConnect Broadband program. The program is being administered as 
a pilot to demonstrate various policies to incentivize private sector 
deployment of infrastructure for high-speed internet connectivity in 
rural areas. Lessons learned in the pilot program, including effective 
methods to connect farmland and ranchland to broadband, can be applied 
to the implementation of future programs, including those in the 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

Request for Comments

    USDA requests responses to questions concerning spectrum 
requirements for non-Federal spectrum users and what USDA can do to 
improve technology availability in rural areas. These relate to current 
frequency assignments, potential future spectrum requirements, 
quantification of spectrum usage, and non-Federal spectrum needs for 
emerging technologies in commercial agriculture, mining, forestry, 
rural manufacturing, and broadband connectivity. Comments are also 
requested concerning research and development efforts that advance 
rural spectrum access and efficiency. Comments are requested from all 
stakeholders with an interest in current and anticipated rural spectrum 
needs. Commenters are not required to respond to all the questions and 
may provide responsive comments to any one or more of the questions 
posed below. Specifically, USDA requests comments on the following:
    (1) What are current and emerging uses for licensed and unlicensed 
wireless communication technologies in commercial agriculture, mining, 
forestry, rural manufacturing, and broadband connectivity to rural 
homes and businesses, and what are their economic benefits? What 
impact, if any, may these emerging uses have on USDA spectrum 
allocations? Please provide examples that support the comment when 
available.
    (2) What frequencies are currently being utilized in rural areas or 
are expected to be used in the future and for what non-Federal purpose? 
Are frequency bandwidths sufficient to meet current and emerging 
demands for greater data communications throughput, including adequate 
speed, latency, reliability, energy efficiency, mobility and connection 
density?
    (3) What level and type of growth in spectrum demand is expected in 
rural areas (including licensed and unlicensed) and frequency bands 
(low, mid and high-band), and where might that growth occur?
    (4) How does the level of fiber deployment in low-density areas 
affect the spectrum allocation and frequency assignment needs (low, 
middle, high) in those areas? Please offer public policy options to 
meet these needs.
    (5) Are there frequencies that, if practicable, should be protected 
from encroachment or interference? Please provide information on the 
frequencies that need such protection. What would be the economic 
impact for withholding use of these frequencies?
    (6) What are the current and anticipated uses of traditional manned 
aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to support commercial 
agriculture, mining, forestry, and rural manufacturing, their economic 
benefit and how will their use impact rural spectrum demand because of 
use of spectrum for control and data transmission? If viable and 
practicable, would it beneficial or detrimental to allocate portions of 
the spectrum be designated for licensed commercial and government UAS 
activities? If so, what would the benefits or drawbacks be for licensed 
operations rather than currently largely unlicensed UAS activities?
    (7) What research and development efforts are being made to advance 
access to fixed and mobile wireless technologies in rural areas? 
Identify public policy options that could be considered for increasing 
these research and development activities.
    (8) What are other relevant facts, factors and concerns involving 
current and anticipated future spectrum requirements for commercial 
agriculture, forestry, mining, and rural manufacturing and their 
implications for USDA? Provide any details and case studies that may be 
available.
    (9) What USDA spectrum changes may be required to allow the agency 
to implement programs to support agriculture, mining, and forestry?
    (10) USDA requests information about options to create flexible 
models for spectrum management, including incentives, standards, and 
enforcement mechanisms, that promote efficient and effective spectrum 
use to benefit rural America and drive innovation and value to 
commercial activities in less populated areas.

William H. Northey,
Under Secretary, Farm Production and Conservation.
[FR Doc. 2019-04540 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P