NTIA Chief May Go Outside Agency to Replace Head of Spectrum Division
With the imminent departure of Paige Atkins, NTIA associate administrator-spectrum (see 1806130080), agency Administrator David Redl has a big job to fill as it works on the administration’s spectrum policy and industry moves closer to the launch of 5G. Atkins will make her last spectrum report to the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) Tuesday. Industry officials said Redl is likely to look outside NTIA to fill the key spectrum position, though one of Atkins' two deputies -- Peter Tenhula or Steve Molina -- is expected to fill in on an interim basis.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
Former NTIA officials said the job is tricky, involving balancing the interests of government spectrum managers at other agencies and supervising a staff of more than 150. Early on, observers mentioned top spectrum managers at the DOD and NASA as likely candidates. NTIA declined to comment Monday.
Atkins, who joined in 2014 from Virginia Tech Applied Research Corp., previously worked for the Defense Information Systems Agency. She replaced Karl Nebbia, who held the job for seven years, and before that Fred Wentland, who was in the office for more than 20. Nebbia was a deputy to Wentland and chaired the powerful Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee, which Tenhula chairs.
In a 5G era, “spectrum is at least as important as any resource the nation has, so that job is a critically important job,” said former Administrator Larry Irving. “We’ve had exceptional people in that job historically.” Finding a replacement is tricky, Irving said. “It’s not just a technical job, it’s also a political job and a management job,” he said. “A critical job at a critical time.”
Redl “clearly is reprioritizing spectrum,” said former Administrator John Kneuer. “Executing on his spectrum policy agenda will require a competent administrator. The career staff are dedicated, but it will be important that someone comes into that position who can provide leadership and oversight [over] the administration’s spectrum policies.”
The CSMAC is expected to take up several reports from its working groups at Tuesday's meeting. The 5G Subcommittee recommends NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences lead work with standards development organizations on coordinating standard development.
The Spectrum Efficiency Subcommittee recommends efficiency be a focus of the administration’s eventual spectrum policy. “NTIA should work with Congress and the Administration to explore ways to reduce the barriers to more efficient federal spectrum use, in a way that does not impact mission effectiveness,” the subcommittee says. “Guiding principles should include a definition of spectrum efficiency goals, such as optimizing use of spectrum and functions required, as well the multi-dimensional aspects of efficiency.” These principles could include “a science-based assessment that leverages spectrum according to its physical or unique properties; considerations in spectrum use include both function and the bands allocated for those services,” the report says.