For example, NTIA was one of the principal proponents urging Congress to give the FCC auction authority. We worked with Congressman Oxley and others to develop such spectrum auction legislation. NTIA has also proposed a spectrum auction methodology to the FCC that would generate higher auction revenues and a more efficient assignment of licenses. NTIA believes that it can make additional contributions in this area to enhance the future revenue potential of the auction process. I wish to emphasize at the outset, however, that to evaluate fully the potential for raising revenue from reallocation of additional Federal spectrum to the private sector, we must understand the difficult trade-offs involved.
Federal agencies use spectrum to provide critical public services.
And, there is virtually no prime spectrum lying fallow. In addition, international treaty allocations and obligations must be taken into account. Finding spectrum to reallocate for private sector use, where possible, requires either that Federal users become more efficient or relocate to other bands, or both. As discussed below, NTIA supports proposals to permit private sector payment to Federal agencies that relocate their operations or become more efficient to free up spectrum for private sector use. The Federal Government uses spectrum on a daily basis to provide critical and diverse public services, such as national defense, emergency rescue efforts, air traffic safety, law enforcement, disaster relief, energy production and distribution, space exploration, and protection of our national parks.