Spectrum Microwave

The Spectrum Microwave program, detailed in Line Item 9923B09900 of the Army's Other Procurement budget, is focused on facilitating the Army's compliance with federal mandates to vacate certain radio frequency spectrum bands for commercial use. The program is managed under the Communications and Electronics Equipment appropriation, specifically within the Satellite Communications budget sub-activity. Its primary objective is to relocate Army microwave communication systems out of the 1755 MHz and 1780-1850 MHz frequency bands, which have been reallocated for commercial wireless services by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The initiative is driven by requirements of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), Title II, Public Law 108-494. This legislation established the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF), which is financed by proceeds from FCC auctions of federal spectrum licenses. The SRF provides federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), with resources to recover costs associated with relocating or modifying their communications systems to accommodate the transfer of spectrum to commercial entities. The DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) oversees the execution and compliance of these spectrum relocation and sharing efforts across the department.

A key goal of the program is to transition all affected Army microwave links from the vacated 1755 MHz and 1780-1850 MHz bands to higher frequency bands, specifically the 7/8 GHz range. This transition enables the Army to comply with federal spectrum policy and supports the broader government objective of maximizing efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum. By moving Army systems to the 7/8 GHz bands, the program also facilitates the compression and consolidation of other federal systems into the 1780-1850 MHz band, further optimizing spectrum usage.

The program's objectives are primarily procurement-focused, involving the acquisition and installation of new microwave equipment and infrastructure compatible with the 7/8 GHz frequency range. This includes engineering, procurement, and deployment of new hardware, as well as the decommissioning and removal of legacy systems operating in the vacated bands. The program also covers associated costs such as site surveys, system integration, and testing to ensure seamless transition and continued operational capability for Army communications.

The Spectrum Microwave line item does not include a funding request for Fiscal Year 2026, as indicated in the budget justification. This reflects the near completion or wind-down of the relocation activities, with the majority of procurement and transition work having been executed in prior years. The absence of new funding in FY 2026 suggests that the Army has largely fulfilled its obligations under the CSEA and that ongoing requirements, if any, will be minimal or managed through other funding mechanisms.