Should the Federal Government Open a Spectrum Leasing Agency?

GivTech.com reports that one nonprofit thinks the U.S. General Services Administration’s handling of surplus real estate could serve as a model to release more wireless spectrum into the marketplace.

A nonprofit technology research and education organization believes the federal government should establish an agency to rent its spare wireless spectrum to the private sector.

The Technology Policy Institute envisions a Government Spectrum Ownership Corporation (GSOC) that could manage the excess wireless spectrum allotted to federal agencies. The GSOC would lease the spectrum out much in the same way as the Government Services Administration (GSA) does with federal real estate and office space. If adopted, the concept could potentially turn a profit for the agencies and give wireless providers and other parties access to more spectrum.

The Institute shared its idea in response to a Notice of Request for Information filed by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on February 14. The OSTP was requesting input on various approaches that could give federal agencies and departments more incentive to share or relinquish spectrum.

Read more at http://www.govtech.com/budget-finance/Should-the-Federal-Government-Open-a-Spectrum-Leasing-Agency.html