Federal Spectrum Audit Mandate: Government Agencies Must Report All Radio Frequency Use Within 18 Months

This bill mandates a deep dive into how the federal government uses its radio frequency space—what’s commonly called the electromagnetic spectrum. Basically, it’s ordering a massive inventory check. No later than 18 months after the bill becomes law, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information must team up with every federal agency to audit all the spectrum assigned to them. Once the audit is complete, a detailed report must be sent to Congress and made publicly available, with the exception of a classified annex for sensitive information.

The Real-World Stakes of Radio Waves

Why should you care about the government’s radio waves? Because spectrum is a finite, essential resource. It’s the invisible highway that carries everything from your cell phone calls and Wi-Fi signals to GPS and emergency public safety communications. When a federal agency is assigned a frequency band, that band is essentially taken out of circulation for commercial use, like 5G expansion, or other public uses. This audit aims to find out exactly what the government is doing with its slice of the pie.

What the Agencies Have to Confess

This isn't just a simple headcount. The report requires excruciating detail about every frequency band assigned to every federal entity. Agencies must specify exactly which bands they are using, what they are using them for, and where they are using them geographically. Crucially, they also have to identify any assigned spectrum they are not actually using. Think of it like cleaning out the garage: they have to list every tool they own, what they use it for, and point out the stuff that’s just sitting there collecting dust. The bill specifically requires the Assistant Secretary to coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation to ensure this work doesn't duplicate a similar audit already required under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Who Benefits and Who Does the Work?

The biggest beneficiaries here are transparency and potentially the private sector. By identifying unused or underutilized spectrum, the government creates a roadmap for potentially reallocating those frequencies. This could free up valuable bandwidth for commercial carriers, potentially leading to faster 5G service or better coverage in rural areas. Congress also benefits from having a clear, detailed picture of this national asset, which helps inform future policy decisions about spectrum allocation.

The group feeling the immediate impact? Every federal agency. They now have to dedicate time and resources—staff hours, technical expertise, and potentially new software—to meticulously catalogue their usage and comply with the audit. While the goal is efficiency, the immediate effect is a significant administrative burden on agencies that are already running lean. Furthermore, while the report is mostly public, the allowance for a “classified annex” means that some details about sensitive or commercially valuable frequency usage could be kept out of public view, which could reduce the overall transparency of the exercise.