Spectrum management structure and regulations in the US-do we need a change in the 21st century?

The authors summarize their preliminary views concerning an investigation of the US spectrum management structure and the adoption of new management and planning methods to introduce new technology requirements in the 21st century. It is pointed out that, in order to develop an effective system for the 21st century, it is not necessary to discard the present system, which has worked effectively in the past, but only to modify it in the areas that directly affect the timely adoption of new policy and procedures. This requires: (1) `high level´ centralized telecommunications policy leadership; (2) coordinated spectrum planning between NTIA and FCC; (3) common NTIA and FCC data base and analysis compatibility for frequency assignment planning information; (4) a private sector advisory planning group; and (5) adoption of spectrum management procedures including spectrum mapping, automated frequency assignment techniques, increased spectrum sharing, flexible spectrum standards, and requiring the use of spectrum efficient techniques wherever possible