Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

The 1960 research project examines the complex administrative and technical challenges of allocating radio frequencies between federal and non-federal users in the United States. At the time of the study, the radio spectrum was managed through a dual-authority system: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversaw non-government allocations, while the President, advised by the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), managed government use. This divided responsibility created significant friction, as a growing scarcity of usable frequencies struggled to meet increasing demands from both commercial broadcasting and national defense. 

The document highlights several organizational deficiencies, noting that while the FCC utilized a public, high-level deliberative process, government assignments through IRAC were often handled by staff-level technicians through "give and take" compromises without an overriding national policy. This lack of central authority fostered suspicion between users and hindered the efficient utilization of a vital national resource. The study analyzes various contemporary legislative responses, including the Potter-Bray and Hoegh Resolutions, and the Cooley Report, which proposed different models for a centralized "superboard" or a National Telecommunications Board to provide high-level direction and unify spectrum management. 

The research concludes that the existing methods were inadequate to handle future technological changes, such as satellite communications and space exploration. It advocates for immediate organizational reform to ensure that frequencies are utilized to their maximum degree. The study emphasizes that because the spectrum is a single entity governed by physical rather than man-made laws, its effective management requires an impartial, authoritative body capable of balancing the diverse needs of national security, economic growth, and the public interest.

Research Highlights

  • The Method: The study analyzes administrative organizations and legal frameworks, including the Communications Act of 1934, while evaluating recommendations from Congressional hearings and specialized groups like the Potter-Bray Resolution and the Cooley Report. 

  • Quantitative Finding: The usable radio spectrum expanded from 500 kilocycles in 1906 to approximately 40,000,000 kilocycles by 1959; 15,000,000 kilocycles of this space are currently used so intensively that satisfying new requirements is difficult. 

  • Qualitative Finding: Allocation is hindered by "dual authority" between the FCC and the President, leading to operational compromises rather than sound technical policy; current management relies on the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), a body of coequal users lacking final authoritative power. 

  • Finding: Maximum spectrum utilization requires a centralized Government authority or "superboard" to coordinate with the FCC, alongside updated engineering standards to address technological shifts like satellite communications and ballistic missile defense.

Publication Date

1-1960

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Faculty Sponsor

Archive

Download

Share

COinS