NTIA Role

The NTIA manages federal use of spectrum because the federal government is a major user of spectrum. About 20 percent of all RF spectrum is for exclusive government use, and another 40 percent is shared between government and business purposes. Federal spectrum involves defense, Federal Aviation Administration , NASA space exploration, maritime navigation, and hundreds of mission-specific and agency uses. One responsibility of NTIA is to define sharing rules among federal users. It goes without saying that Defense Department spectrum is not often shared.

Another role of the NTIA is to manage the interests of the United States in international wireless venues, such as Comsat, Intelsat, Inmarsat, and the World Radio Conference (WRC). The organization does this through its Office of International Affairs, in coordination with the State Department and the FCC.