Mikayla Easley
Pentagon, telecom industry’s battle over spectrum symptomatic of a troubled system
For decades, the Department of Defense (DoD) has had relatively unquestioned access to a large portion of the electromagnetic spectrum — a critical resource that enables capabilities like radars, satellite communications, and navigation systems. However, a number of leaders at the Pentagon are concerned that access may soon be taken away. There has been a years-long battle between the DoD and the commercial telecommunications industry over access to the 3.1-3.45 GHz S-band. That portion of spectrum has been solely designated to the DoD for decades.