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DOD CIO tells Congress lower-3 GHz band is "golden" for national security and must be protected
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Summary
Acting DOD Chief Information Officer emphasized to the House Armed Services subcommittee that the 3.1–3.45 GHz portion of the spectrum supports roughly 1,100 platforms and weapon systems and should be preserved to protect missile and air-defense capabilities tied to the Golden Dome concept.
Ms. Harrington, the acting Department of Defense chief information officer, told the House Armed Services subcommittee the lower 3 GHz band — roughly 3.1 to 3.45 gigahertz — carries capabilities for "about 1,100 different platforms and weapon systems" that are critical to national security.
Nut graf: Harrington described that band as "golden" and argued it cannot be traded away because it supports missile defense, air defense and other systems used by the U.S. and allied partners; she said the department is studying dynamic spectrum sharing but must protect key allocations for defense needs.
Harrington said protection of that portion of spectrum is essential for the department's sensing and nonkinetic defenses, which she linked to the Golden Dome concept the administration prioritizes. "That area of the spectrum is golden, and we need to protect it to maintain national security," she said, adding many platforms rely on that range.
She told the committee the department is evaluating dynamic spectrum sharing as a potential capability but described it as "yet to be determined" and urged prudence when considering tradeoffs. Harrington said her office holds spectrum authority for ensuring department use and is coordinating with research and engineering, the CDAO and DARPA on efficient spectrum use.
On Congress and potential budget reconciliation actions, Harrington said DOD has identified roughly 425 megahertz of spectrum that is unencumberable and could be made available, but she said the lower 3 GHz band is not part of that pool. "We have figured out there's about 425 megahertz that, solidly we can unencumber and let to be sold, but not the lower 3," she said.
Lawmakers asked Harrington to confirm the administration has communicated the importance of the band to Capitol Hill; she said the president and senior Defense Department leaders have made protecting that spectrum a priority.
Harrington also tied spectrum protection to nonkinetic sensing and early warning capabilities, saying these tools can help detect threats and enable a proportionate kinetic response to protect lives.
