[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16243-16244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05407]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) Listening Session

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) will hold two public listening sessions to assist in its 
preparation of a National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) for the United 
States. NTIA is seeking input from the public as it develops a Strategy 
that identifies the actions needed to maximize the potential of our 
nation's spectrum resources. Access to spectrum contributes to 
technological innovation and economic growth and is critical to 
national security, public safety, and other national priorities. The 
agendas and other information regarding the events will be posted at 
[https://ntia.gov].

DATES: The listening sessions will be held on: Thursday, March 30, 
2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time; and Tuesday, 
April 11, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES:  The NTIA National Spectrum Strategy Public Listening 
Session will be held on March 30th in the Yates Auditorium, U.S. 
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.
    The NTIA National Spectrum Strategy Public Listening Session, 
hosted by SpectrumX--An NSF Center for Spectrum Innovation, will be 
held on April 11th in the Patricia George Decio Theatre at the 
DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame, 100 
Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
    Both sessions also will be webcast live via NTIA's public website, 
at [https://ntia.gov].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding this 
Notice to [[email protected]], indicating ``National 
Spectrum Strategy Listening Session'' in the subject line, or if by 
mail, address inquiries to National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230. By telephone, contact John Alden at 202-482-
8046. Please direct media inquiries to Charles Meisch, (202) 482-7002, 
or NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Directions for providing inputs during the 
listening session: Those wishing to speak during the listening session 
should send an email (with ``Request to Speak'' in the subject line) to 
[email protected] to request inclusion on the speaker's 
list. Please provide (1) your name; (2) your affiliation (company or 
other organization) if any; (3) contact information, including city and 
state, an email address and telephone number; (4) the specific date and 
location of the listening session at which you would like to speak; and 
(5) the topic(s) you plan to address in your presentation.
    Emails requesting inclusion on the speaker's list should be sent no 
later than five business days prior to the date of the listening 
session. These names will be considered for inclusion in the final 
program. Speakers will be allowed approximately five minutes to make 
their oral presentations during the session. Due to time limitations, 
there is no guarantee that all of those submitting requests to speak 
will be able to do so. If necessary, NTIA will select speakers so that 
a variety of stakeholders, viewpoints, and topics will be represented. 
Unfortunately, slides and other visual presentations cannot be 
accommodated. NTIA will inform those

[[Page 16244]]

who have been selected to speak prior to each session, and NTIA may 
publish on its website a list of speakers in advance of each session.
    Attendees or speakers needing accommodations should notify NTIA by 
sending an email to [email protected], with ``Listening 
Session Accommodations'' in the subject line. Requests for 
accommodations should be sent no later than 10 days prior to the date 
of the listening session for which they will be needed.
    Background: Access to radio-frequency spectrum is required for all 
wireless services. Sufficient access to spectrum is critical to the 
U.S. economy, as well as to many functions of civil society and 
federal, state and local government operations. Wireless phone and 
internet networks, Wi-Fi and trunked radio systems, intelligent 
transportation systems, satellite communications and remote sensing all 
rely on transmission and receipt of signals using RF spectrum, as do 
satellite radiolocation systems and government radars used for 
aeronautical, maritime, and terrestrial operations such as weather 
forecasting, aircraft safety and national defense.
    NTIA oversees the Federal Government's use of spectrum and serves 
as the chief advisor to the President on issues of telecommunications 
policy, which includes the management of spectrum. NTIA works closely 
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates and 
manages spectrum use by non-Federal entities, including commercial 
service providers, state and local governments and private-sector users 
such as utility companies, manufacturers and academic and scientific 
institutions.
    The Secretary of Commerce, working through NTIA and in 
collaboration with the FCC, is developing a National Spectrum Strategy 
(NSS) and implementation plan. The NSS will outline an approach to 
maintain U.S. leadership in advanced wireless technologies and services 
and to ensure the availability of spectrum resources to meet national 
requirements. As part of this effort, NTIA is seeking views and inputs 
from interested parties and stakeholders in several ways. These 
listening sessions will allow members of the public to provide oral 
presentations to those charged with developing the spectrum strategy 
and to listen to the views and perspectives of other speakers. The 
listening sessions will be recorded and made available on NTIA's 
website, at [https://ntia.gov ].
    Topics that speakers may consider addressing in their oral 
presentations include, but are not limited to:
    The development of a spectrum ``pipeline'' of bands to study for 
repurposing, to ensure that there will be sufficient spectrum for 
existing and future federal and non-federal services and missions.
    The spectrum requirements for next-generation networks and 
technologies.
    Technologies or processes that are currently available but perhaps 
not sufficiently used to facilitate spectrum sharing.
    Additional research and development needed for new spectrum sharing 
models or regimes.
    Processes needed to develop and implement a long-term strategic 
spectrum planning process.
    Improved methods of engagement between federal and non-federal 
stakeholders regarding spectrum allocation and authorization, 
repurposing, sharing, and coordination
    Innovations and next-generation capabilities for spectrum 
management models (including both licensed and unlicensed) to expand 
and improve spectrum access.
    Policies that would help identify and enable development of new and 
innovative uses of spectrum.
    Separately, NTIA is releasing a Request for Comments (RFC) that 
will allow interested parties to file written comments on these and 
related subjects. Parties can file comments at regulations.gov, 
utilizing the docket number NTIA-2023-0003. The RFC, including 
directions for filing written comments, can be found on NTIA's website 
at [https://www.ntia.gov]. Parties do not have to file written comments 
in response to the RFC in order to sign up to speak during a listening 
session or vice versa. Parties are encouraged, however, to review the 
RFC, including the comprehensive list of questions presented in that 
document, to inform their presentations during the listening sessions.

Stephanie Weiner,
Acting Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-05407 Filed 3-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P