GAO Wants DOD to Do More to Ensure Implementation of New Spectrum Strategy

(see 2010290061), proposes the Pentagon use “dynamic and bidirectional sharing for facilitating access to commercial spectrum.” DOD released a request for information in September on dynamic spectrum sharing on the 3.45-3.55 GHz band (see 2009210056), a proposal some critics see as a back door to 5G nationalization. The defense secretary should ensure the Joint Chiefs of Staff vice chairman “identifies the procedures and processes necessary to provide for integrated defense-wide strategy, planning, and budgeting with respect to joint electromagnetic spectrum [EMS] operations,” GAO said. The report recommends the vice chairman propose spectrum “governance, management, organizational, and operational reforms” to the defense secretary. GAO wants the defense secretary to “assign clear responsibility to a senior official with authority and resources necessary to compel action for the long-term implementation of the 2020 strategy in time to oversee the execution of the 2020 strategy implementation plan.” The office recommends the defense secretary ensure the senior official “issues an actionable implementation plan” and “creates oversight processes that would facilitate the department’s implementation.” DOD agreed or partially agreed with all the recommendations but said it wouldn’t identify clear time frames for achieving them. “Given the department’s challenges in implementing previous EMS-related strategies, we believe that DOD needs to maintain focus on actions necessary to implement the 2020 strategy,” GAO said. “If the department finalizes and carries out organizational reform efforts that they are considering and continues to make progress toward the intent of our recommendations, DOD will be better positioned for success in the long term.”