CSMAC Expected to Relaunch in Coming Months
NTIA hasn't relaunched the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee or announced a meeting of what has emerged as one of the most important federal advisory groups on spectrum. Current and former CSMAC members said they have been told little, though they expect meetings to start again this year. Members said they're eager to get back to work, with many spectrum issues looming as 5G is deployed nationwide.
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NTIA doesn’t have a permanent administrator. Evelyn Remaley, head of NTIA’s Office of Policy Analysis and Development, has run the agency in an acting capacity since January (see 2101210067). An NTIA spokesperson declined comment Wednesday.
CSMAC last met in April, finalizing recommendations on spectrum policy for drones (see 2104080060). In March, NTIA sought nominations for the group, then pushed the application deadline from April 16 to May 13. During the Trump administration, CSMAC didn’t meet from July 2018 to October 2019. The Commerce Department is reviewing the applications, officials said.
The FCC recently announced it rechartered another key advisory committee, the Technological Advisory Council, with its first meeting in October (see 2107230039). The two groups differ in approach. CSMAC members are “special government employees” and don't represent any organization or interest, while TAC members represent their company or organization. CSMAC members must file financial disclosure forms not required of TAC members.
TAC Chairman and CSMAC member Dennis Roberson of Roberson and Associates told us both are “really important organizations” that need to get back to work in the coming months. CSMAC does “really in-depth and focused studies,” while TAC is “a little more freewheeling,” he said. The groups are “complementary” in how they work, he said.
“It is critical for CSMAC to get back to work given all the spectrum issues before NTIA,” said Wireless ISP Association President Claude Aiken, a member of the last CSMAC. The administration’s competition executive order (see 2107090063) “makes it clear that spectrum is a key priority for the administration,” he said: “CSMAC is a fantastic way to drive that forward, and for NTIA to engage the private sector to develop paths forward on important issues like spectrum sharing and better utilization of federal spectrum.”
“Eventually, they’ll reconstitute the CSMAC,” said Enterprise Wireless Alliance President Mark Crosby, a longtime member of the group. “It’s just another voice, it’s another source of information and advice and counsel.” Crosby said he has heard little about next steps: “They’re not calling me for advice."
“It’s important that evolving spectrum policy issues continue to be addressed, and NAB supports the rechartering of CSMAC as an important forum for industry and academic experts to share and contribute to the spectrum policy debate,” emailed a NAB spokesperson. Robert Weller, NAB vice president-spectrum policy, was a member of the last CSMAC.
The lack of a permanent NTIA administrator likely complicated getting CSMAC set up, experts said.
“By failing to nominate and secure confirmation of a permanent NTIA administrator, the Biden administration is squandering a golden opportunity to distinguish itself from the Trump administration,” said Free State Foundation Policy Studies Director Seth Cooper. In the last administration, spectrum policy was “plagued by the revolving door at NTIA,” he said: “A Senate-confirmed NTIA head who has the backing of the president remains sorely needed to coordinate the clearing of government-occupied spectrum for commercial 5G and to help resolve interagency disagreements that have stymied federal spectrum policy.”
“With key nominees for FCC and NTIA still unknown, some advisory committees may not get up and running for a while,” said Cooley’s Robert McDowell. “History teaches us that once every agency is up to full strength, they can catch up and get their work done.”