The Truth of the Matter Can We Share Spectrum?
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Jun 9, 2025 Tom Karako, the Director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project, dives into the critical topic of spectrum management. He discusses the fierce competition between commercial telecommunications and national defense, emphasizing the scarcity of spectrum as a national resource. The conversation highlights the challenges of legislative compromises amid the needs of military radar and faster communication technologies. Karako also addresses the S-band's essential role in national security, underscoring its significance in global competition.
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Spectrum's Dual Use and Importance
- The electromagnetic spectrum includes all radio waves from visible light to UHF bands used in communications.
- Most spectrum is auctioned to commercial use, but certain bands remain reserved for defense radars critical to national security.
Hawaii False Missile Alert Example
- In 2018, a false missile alert in Hawaii showed how communications could interfere with critical missile defense radars.
- Even a microsecond delay caused by jamming could compromise radar detection of real threats.
Defense Priority Transcends Politics
- Protecting military radars from interference is a national security priority supported across political parties.
- The debate on Capitol Hill centers on balancing commercial telecom expansion with defense spectrum needs.