Winning the 6G Race
This Presidential Memorandum directs various cabinet secretaries and agency heads to ensure the United States leads global development of the next generation of mobile communications networks (6G), establishing it as foundational to national security and economic prosperity.
The action explicitly mandates studies for relocating Federal systems away from the 7.125-7.4 GHz spectrum band to enable its designation for commercial 6G use, while also initiating studies for other bands (2.69-2.9 GHz and 4.4-4.94 GHz).
Furthermore, the Secretary of State is ordered to engage diplomatically to advance U.S. objectives in international standards bodies concerning 6G.
Arguments For
Ensuring long-term national security and economic prosperity by establishing U.S. leadership in foundational 6G technology development.
Proactively identifying and reallocating commercial spectrum (like 7.125-7.4 GHz) to support advanced 6G network deployment without materially impairing existing national security missions.
Establishing a clear directive for federal agencies to investigate available radiofrequency spectrum for commercial 6G use, using existing legislative authority (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).
Committing the Administration to actively shape international standards through diplomatic engagement, ensuring U.S. interests drive the global 6G framework (ITU World Radiocommunication Conference-27).
Arguments Against
The directive mandates studies for relocating incumbent Federal systems in the 7.125-7.4 GHz band, which presents high transition costs and potential disruption to existing national security and electric grid operations.
The memorandum requires complex interagency coordination and relies on a 12-month deadline for submitting feasibility studies, creating significant scheduling pressures for departments like Defense and Commerce.
Designating spectrum for commercial use always carries the risk of unintended consequences for existing spectrum users or creating bottlenecks if alternative frequencies are insufficient or require complex harmonization.
The effectiveness hinges on successful international diplomatic efforts to secure favorable standards, which the U.S. cannot unilaterally control.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF WAR THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC POLICY THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS SUBJECT: Winning the 6G Race By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct: Section 1. Purpose. The next generation of mobile communications networks (6G) will be foundational to the national security, foreign policy, and economic prosperity of the United States. This technology will play a pivotal role in the development and adoption of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and implantable technologies. 6G will also provide faster, more resilient, and more secure communication networks that can be utilized for national security and public safety purposes. It is the policy of the United States to lead the world in 6G development. Certain steps are necessary to achieve the goal of this policy, including steadfastly advancing American interests in the international standards bodies that will play a crucial role in 6G development, and identifying a significant volume of radiofrequency spectrum that can be harmonized for 6G networks internationally. My Administration has been studying multiple spectrum bands this year to determine what Federal spectrum can be reallocated to commercial use for 6G development without undermining national security missions that occur in those bands. Consistent with the preliminary conclusions of those evaluations, I am hereby directing the following actions to ensure America’s leadership in 6G development.
The memorandum addresses key executive department leaders, intelligence officials, and regulators, establishing the policy to ensure the United States leads in developing 6G technology.
The purpose section identifies 6G as critical for national security, foreign policy, economic prosperity, and enabling emerging technologies like AI and robotics.
The U.S. policy is set to lead this development internationally, requiring active participation in standards bodies and the identification of suitable radiofrequency spectrum for commercial 6G use.
This directive follows preliminary evaluations regarding which Federal spectrum can be moved to commercial use without jeopardizing existing national security operations in those bands.
Sec. 2. Spectrum Relocation. (a) The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information (Assistant Secretary) shall, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, immediately commence studies in consultation with Federal incumbents with operations between the 7.125-7.4 GHz spectrum frequencies to determine how to relocate their affected systems to other frequencies, including 7.4-8.4 GHz. (b) No later than 12 months from the date of this memorandum, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, results of the studies required under subsection (a) of this section, including estimated transition costs and timelines as determined by the Assistant Secretary. This submission by the Assistant Secretary shall also demonstrate how such relocation of systems will not materially impair the national security missions or electric grid operations that occur in the 7.125-7.4 GHz band, as identified by the Secretary of War and the Director of National Intelligence. (c) This section shall not apply to systems at fixed geographic sites that are used for satellite telemetry uplink and radio astronomy as identified by the Assistant Secretary.
Section 2 directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to immediately begin studying how to move incumbent Federal systems operating between 7.125-7.4 GHz out of that band, potentially moving them to 7.4-8.4 GHz.
This study must be done in consultation with economic, science, and technology advisors, as well as the current Federal users.
The Assistant Secretary must deliver a report within 12 months detailing study results, including transition costs and timelines.
Crucially, the report must prove that moving these systems will not significantly harm national security missions or electric grid functions in that specific band, based on findings from the Secretary of War and the Director of National Intelligence.
This requirement exempts specific fixed-site systems used for satellite telemetry uplink and radio astronomy, as identified by the Assistant Secretary.
Sec. 3. Spectrum Designation. Pursuant to section 40002(c)(2)(A) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), the Assistant Secretary shall immediately begin the process of identifying the band of spectrum frequencies at 7.125-7.4 GHz for reallocation for full-power commercial licensed use cases.
Section 3 immediately initiates the formal process to designate the 7.125-7.4 GHz spectrum band specifically for commercial use under license.
This action legally leverages authority granted under Section 40002(c)(2)(A) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21).
This step formalizes the intent to make this identified band available for high-power, licensed commercial applications intended for 6G networks.
Sec. 4. Spectrum Studies. Pursuant to section 40002(f) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Assistant Secretary shall immediately begin the process to commence studies on the 2.69-2.9 GHz and the 4.4-4.94 GHz spectrum frequencies to determine whether portions of those bands can feasibly be reallocated for full-power commercial licensed use cases.
This section mandates additional studies concerning two other spectrum ranges: 2.69-2.9 GHz and 4.4-4.94 GHz.
These studies are also conducted under the authority granted by Section 40002(f) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The goal of these studies is to determine the feasibility of reallocating some portions of these bands for commercial licensed use, expanding the potential spectrum available for future 6G networks.
Sec. 5. Diplomatic Engagement. The Secretary of State shall, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, the Assistant Secretary, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and any other official the Secretary of State deems appropriate, advance the objectives identified in section 1 of this memorandum through diplomatic engagements. These efforts shall include building a coalition of industry and foreign partners that supports the United States’ positions on Agenda Item 1.7 at the International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference-27.
Section 5 tasks the Secretary of State with leading diplomatic efforts to support the U.S. objectives for 6G leadership outlined in Section 1.
This requires coordination across economic, science, technology, and regulatory leadership.
The primary focus of these diplomatic engagements is to build international coalitions of industry and foreign partners.
These allies will back the United States' stance on specific topics, particularly Agenda Item 1.7, during the International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27).
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Section 6 outlines standard limitations for Presidential Memoranda, ensuring they do not override existing statutory authorities granted to executive departments or agencies.
It also preserves the OMB Director’s established roles regarding budget, administration, and legislative proposals.
Implementation must comply with all existing laws and depend on available funding appropriations.
Finally, the memorandum clarifies that it does not create any enforceable legal rights or benefits for any private party against the U.S. government or its personnel.