[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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