Regulatory Resources Hub
The Regulatory Resources Hub is the home of a full suite of links to documents and online repositories that form the core of U.S. spectrum policy and management practices. Check below for links to U.S. laws and regulations (e.g., Title 47 of the U.S. Code and Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Office of Management and Budget circulars, and the U.S. Table of Allocations. The Regulatory Resources Hub also links to ITU documents, including the basic instruments and the Radio Regulations.
I. Federal Legislation
The following statutes constitute the primary legislative framework governing spectrum management in the United States.
| Statute | U.S. Code Citation | Relevant Provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Act of 1934 | 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq. | The Communications Act of 1934 is the bedrock of U.S. spectrum law. It grants the FCC authority to allocate and license spectrum for non-federal users (§ 303) and reserves to the President — delegated to NTIA — control over spectrum used by federal agencies (§ 305). The Act has been substantially amended over the decades, most significantly by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. |
| NTIA Organization Act (1992) | 47 U.S.C. § 901 et seq. | Codifies NTIA's role as the executive branch's principal advisor to the President on telecommunications and information policy, and its authority to manage spectrum used by federal agencies. |
| Telecommunications Act of 1996 | 47 U.S.C. § 151 note | A major overhaul of the Communications Act that restructured the U.S. telecommunications landscape. It introduced the FCC's authority to assign licenses through competitive bidding (auctions) and established new frameworks for commercial spectrum access across multiple service categories. |
| Statute | U.S. Code Citation | Key Spectrum Provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA) (2004) | 47 U.S.C. § 928 | Created the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF), which reimburses federal agencies for costs incurred when they are required to vacate spectrum bands cleared for commercial auction. Agencies must demonstrate that auction proceeds will cover at least 110% of their projected relocation costs before clearing can proceed. |
| Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Title VI – 'Spectrum Act') | 47 U.S.C. § 1401 et seq. | Authorized the broadcast incentive auction, reallocated the D Block (758–768/788–798 MHz) to public safety use, established the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), and updated SRF procedures to support large-scale federal spectrum repurposing. |
| Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 | 47 U.S.C. § 1451 et seq. | Required NTIA to identify at least 30 megahertz of spectrum below 3 GHz for potential commercial reallocation, and expanded the SRF to cover spectrum sharing costs — not just full relocation. |
| RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018 (incl. MOBILE NOW Act, Title VI) | 47 U.S.C. § 1451 et seq. | Incorporated the MOBILE NOW Act and directed NTIA and the FCC to jointly identify 255 megahertz of spectrum for mobile and fixed wireless broadband by December 31, 2022. It also required the FCC to develop a national plan for unlicensed spectrum use and reauthorized the FCC's auction authority. |
| Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) (2021) | 47 U.S.C. § 921 note et seq. | Directed NTIA and the FCC to study the 3.1–3.45 GHz band for potential commercial broadband use and provided additional funding for the SRF to support federal transitions, as part of a broader infrastructure investment package. |
| One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) (2025) | 47 U.S.C. § 309(j) et seq. | Restored the FCC's spectrum auction authority through September 30, 2034, and established a mandate for NTIA to identify 500 megahertz of federal spectrum for commercial licensed use, with at least 200 megahertz identified within two years. The FCC was separately directed to identify 300 megahertz of non-federal spectrum for auction.
The Act appropriated $50 million to fund NTIA's studies of three priority bands: 2.7–2.9 GHz, 4.4–4.9 GHz, and 7.125–7.4 GHz, and to complete a valuation of federal spectrum. |
II. Regulations
The primary regulatory framework for spectrum is found in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), divided between Chapter I (FCC) and Chapter III (NTIA/Commerce).
| Title | Code of Federal Regulations Part | Spectrum Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Practice and Procedure | 47 CFR Part 1 | The procedural backbone of FCC licensing. Contains the rules for filing wireless license applications, leasing spectrum to third parties, and the executive branch national security review process for foreign-owned spectrum licensees. |
| Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; General Rules and Regulations | 47 CFR Part 2 | Contains the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations (§ 2.106), which maps every frequency band to its permitted uses under both domestic and ITU international rules. This is the foundational reference for what any given slice of spectrum can legally be used in the United States. |
| Experimental Radio Service (Other than Broadcast) | 47 CFR Part 5 | Governs licenses for experimental spectrum use, allowing researchers, innovators, and developers to test new technologies in spectrum bands before those technologies are commercially deployed. |
| Radio Frequency Devices | 47 CFR Part 15 | Governs the use of RF devices — such as Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, and smart home equipment — that operate without individual licenses. Sets the technical limits these devices must meet to avoid causing harmful interference to licensed services. |
| Commercial Mobile Radio Services | 47 CFR Part 20 | Establishes the core operating rules for commercial mobile services, including cellular and PCS networks, covering technical standards, service obligations, and interference protections. |
| Public Mobile Services | 47 CFR Part 22 | Rules for cellular telephone service and other public mobile services licensed under the traditional cellular framework. |
| Personal Communications Services (PCS) | 47 CFR Part 24 | Governs licensed use of the 1850–1990 MHz and related Personal Communications Services bands, which support a significant portion of U.S. mobile broadband traffic. |
| Satellite Communications | 47 CFR Part 25 | Governs the licensing of commercial earth stations and satellites, including spectrum coordination procedures for satellite services and orbital filing requirements aligned with ITU processes. |
| Space Launch Services | 47 CFR Part 26 | Governs spectrum use associated with commercial space launch services, reflecting the FCC's expanding role in licensing spectrum for the growing commercial space sector. |
| Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services | 47 CFR Part 27 | Covers Advanced Wireless Services (AWS), Wireless Communications Service (WCS), and other licensed bands not addressed by more specific regulatory parts. |
| Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service (UMFUS) | 47 CFR Part 30 | Governs commercial use of millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum (primarily bands at 24 GHz and above) for 5G networks and next-generation wireless services. |
| Radio Broadcast Services | 47 CFR Part 73 | Governs AM and FM radio and television broadcast spectrum, including channel allocations, technical standards, and licensing rules for over-the-air broadcasters. |
| Experimental Radio, Auxiliary, Special Broadcast and Other Program Distributional Services | 47 CFR Part 74 | Covers auxiliary and specialty broadcast uses of spectrum, including low-power TV, translator stations, and other program distribution services that support the broadcast ecosystem. |
| Stations in the Maritime Services | 47 CFR Part 80 | Governs spectrum used for maritime communications and navigation, including ship and coast station licensing and technical standards for maritime radio services. |
| Aviation Services | 47 CFR Part 87 | Governs spectrum used in aviation, including air-ground communications, navigation aids (NAVAIDs), and other aeronautical radio services critical to flight safety. |
| Uncrewed Aircraft System Services | 47 CFR Part 88 | Establishes the regulatory framework for spectrum used in commercial Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) operations, a rapidly evolving area as drone use expands in the national airspace. |
| Private Land Mobile Radio Services | 47 CFR Part 90 | Governs spectrum used by public safety agencies, utilities, railroads, and other private users for land mobile communications, including the interoperability channels used by first responders. |
| Personal Radio Services | 47 CFR Part 95 | Covers personal radio services including Citizens Band (CB), the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), and the Family Radio Service (FRS), which provide low-power communications for individuals and small groups without the need for a formal license in most cases. |
| Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) | 47 CFR Part 96 | Establishes the rules for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) in the 3.5 GHz band (3550–3700 MHz), a pioneering three-tier spectrum sharing framework that accommodates incumbent federal users, licensed commercial users (Priority Access Licensees), and general unlicensed access (General Authorized Access). |
| Amateur Radio Service | 47 CFR Part 97 | Governs the use of designated spectrum bands by amateur (ham) radio operators, who play an important role in emergency communications and experimental radio technology. |
| Fixed Microwave Services | 47 CFR Part 101 | Rules for licensed fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave links, which form part of the backhaul infrastructure supporting cellular networks and other communications systems. |
| Title | Code of Federal Regulations Part | Spectrum Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management | 47 CFR Part 300 | Incorporates by reference the NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management ('Redbook'), making its requirements binding on all federal agencies. The Manual governs how agencies request frequency assignments, coordinate spectrum use, and report interference. |
| Relocation of and Spectrum Sharing by Federal Government Stations | 47 CFR Part 301 | Implements the Spectrum Relocation Fund's procedures for federal agencies required to relocate out of spectrum bands designated for commercial auction or sharing, including cost recovery, reimbursement timelines, and sharing arrangement procedures. |
III. Executive Orders & Presidential Directives
The following executive orders, presidential memoranda, and national security directives shape federal spectrum policy and governance.
| Instrument | Subject | Spectrum Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Order 12046 (March 27, 1978) | Transfer of Telecommunications Functions | The foundational executive order for federal spectrum governance. Delegated the President's authority over federal spectrum use (47 U.S.C. § 305) to the Secretary of Commerce, who in turn delegated it to NTIA. |
| Presidential Memorandum on Spectrum Policy for the 21st Century (May 29, 2003) | Spectrum Policy Initiative | Launched a formal government initiative to modernize U.S. spectrum management and unlock its economic value. Established the Federal Government Spectrum Task Force, the recommendations of which shaped subsequent legislation and rulemaking. |
| Presidential Memorandum - Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation (June 14, 2013) | Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation | Directed federal agencies to make available 500 megahertz of spectrum for commercial wireless broadband use within ten years, and established a spectrum sharing framework, informed by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), that promoted dynamic spectrum sharing as a policy tool. |
| National Security Presidential Memorandum 8 – 'Winning the 6G Race' (December 20, 2025) | 6G Spectrum Leadership / WRC-27 Preparation | Directed the State Department to build international coalitions in support of U.S. spectrum positions at the ITU's World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27), particularly on mid-band spectrum candidates for 6G networks, and directed NTIA and the FCC to assert U.S. spectrum leadership in international fora.
Also accelerated spectrum study timelines set by the 2025 OB3 Act. |
| Executive Order – 'Ensuring American Space Superiority' (December 18, 2025) | Space Spectrum / Satellite Policy | Directed the Department of Commerce and NTIA to assess opportunities to improve spectrum management for commercial space operations and to report findings within 120 days, reflecting the Administration's focus on expanding commercial access to spectrum supporting space launch and satellite services. |
IV. Administrative Guidance
Administrative guidance includes agency manuals, policy statements, interagency MOUs, and other authoritative instruments that govern how spectrum management is actually carried out.
| Document | Issuing Agency | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management ('Redbook') | NTIA | The primary binding administrative instrument governing how federal agencies use spectrum. Covers frequency assignment procedures, technical standards, interference reporting, and the processes through which agencies coordinate spectrum use through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). Federal agencies must comply with its specifications when requesting frequency assignments. |
| NTIA-FCC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | NTIA/FCC | Governs the coordination process between the FCC and NTIA when FCC spectrum actions may affect federal users. Establishes procedures for FCC notification, executive branch review, and resolution of conflicts — a critical mechanism for balancing commercial and government spectrum needs. |
| NTIA-FCC-DOI Memorandum of Understanding on Electromagnetic Spectrum on Tribal Lands | NTIA/FCC/DOI | A tripartite agreement among NTIA, FCC, and the Department of the Interior establishing a framework for interagency coordination to advance spectrum access and broadband deployment on Tribal lands and Hawaiian homelands, in support of Tribal political and economic self-determination. |
| FCC Spectrum Management Principles for Transmitters & Receivers (FCC 23-27) | FCC | A policy statement in which the FCC adopted nine principles to guide spectrum management decisions with the goal of improving spectral efficiency, reducing harmful interference, and maximizing the utility of licensed spectrum across services. |
| Regulation | Issuing Agency | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| OMB Circular A-11, Section 31.9 | Office of Management and Budget | Requires federal agencies to obtain NTIA certification that spectrum resources are available and supportable before investing in new spectrum-dependent systems or equipment, ensuring that spectrum planning is integrated into the federal acquisition process. |
| DoD Instruction 4650.01, "Policy and Procedures for Management and Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum" (January 9, 2009, as updated) | Department of War | The primary DOW spectrum management instruction, establishing policy and procedures for how the Department of War manages and uses electromagnetic spectrum across all military departments, combatant commands, and defense agencies, in coordination with NTIA's government-wide framework. |
| DoD Directive 4650.05 | Department of War | Governs DOW policy for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems, including GPS, which rely on protected spectrum for operation and are critical to both military and civilian infrastructure. |
| FAA Order JO 6050.32 (Spectrum Management) | Federal Aviation Administration | FAA's governing manual for spectrum management policy and procedures, covering frequency assignment requests, coordination with NTIA and the IRAC, interference resolution, and technical engineering standards for FAA spectrum-dependent systems including air traffic control radars and navigation aids.
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V. International Treaties & Agreements
Spectrum use in the United States must conform to binding international obligations, primarily through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), but also with and among neighboring countries and regional groups.
| Instrument | Year / Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ITU Constitution (CS) | Geneva, 1992; as amended by subsequent Plenipotentiary Conferences (most recently PP-22, Bucharest 2022). Ratified by the United States | The highest-level ITU treaty, establishing the legal basis, purposes, and governance structure of the International Telecommunication Union. |
| ITU Convention (CV) | Geneva, 1992; as amended. Ratified by the U.S. | Complements the ITU Constitution by establishing the operational rules of the ITU, including the structure and mandate of the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), the convening of World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), and procedures for member state dispute resolution. |
| ITU Radio Regulations (RR) | 2024 Edition (entered into force January 1, 2025), resulting from WRC-23 (Dubai, 2023) | The principal international treaty governing spectrum use worldwide. Binding on all 193 ITU Member States, the Radio Regulations establish the global Table of Frequency Allocations, the rights and obligations of member states for frequency use, procedures for coordinating satellite orbital positions, and interference protection standards. The Regulations are updated at each WRC, held approximately every four years. The current 2024 Edition reflects outcomes from WRC-23 (Dubai, 2023) and entered into force on January 1, 2025. |
| Agreement | Parties | Description |
|---|---|---|
| U.S.-Canada Spectrum Sharing Agreement | U.S. (NTIA/FCC) and Canada (ISED) | A bilateral framework coordinating spectrum use along the U.S.-Canada border, implemented through a series of band-specific arrangements covering services such as AM/FM broadcasting, cellular, PCS, and microwave. Administered jointly by the FCC and NTIA on the U.S. side, and by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) on the Canadian side. |
| U.S.-Mexico Spectrum Coordination Agreements (multiple, by frequency band) | U.S. (NTIA/FCC) and Mexico (IFT) | The U.S.-Mexico spectrum relationship is structured as a series of band-specific coordination agreements and technical arrangements rather than a single consolidated treaty, covering bands including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, AWS, PCS, 3.45 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and others. Administered by the FCC and NTIA on the U.S. side and the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones on the Mexico side. |
| Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS Charter / "Charter of Bogotá") | All 35 OAS Member States, including the United States. | U.S. membership in the OAS Charter (signed April 30, 1948; in force December 13, 1951) confers automatic membership in CITEL, the OAS's specialized entity for telecommunications and ICT, established by OAS General Assembly Resolution AG/RES. 1224 (1993). The spectrum-relevant body within CITEL is Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II), which coordinates Inter-American Proposals (IAPs) for World Radiocommunication Conferences and promotes hemispheric spectrum harmonization among member states. The U.S. participates actively in PCC.II through NTIA and the FCC. |