DOD 'Willing to Share' Some of Its Spectrum With Carriers, Esper Says
DOD is “willing to share” use of its spectrum with wireless carriers in some cases, Defense Secretary Mark Esper told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. The committee was examining DOD’s $705 billion FY 2021 budget proposal. “A lot of…
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U.S. companies want to go to the mid-band range" of spectrum for their rollouts of 5G technology, Esper said. "The private sector wants that. We need” those frequencies. “The technology exists, I’m told, to” share spectrum that DOD currently occupies, he said. “That’s the best way to move forward so we can meet the economic priority with the national security priority.” Esper noted Pentagon use of the 3100-3350 MHz band. NTIA in January called for further study, saying federal agencies may be able to share that band (see 2001270049). DOD has objections to Ligado's L-band license modification applications (see 1911210055).