Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-110

§1507 Unlicensed Spectrum Policy

Title 47 › CHAPTER 14 — MAKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROADBAND INVESTMENT AND LIMITING EXCESSIVE AND NEEDLESS OBSTACLES TO WIRELESS › § 1507

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Set U.S. policy to get the most public benefit from the nation's radio spectrum. It must promote new technology and investment in wireless broadband and make some radio bands available without a license so consumers can use unlicensed wireless broadband. The Federal Communications Commission must make sure decisions to open bands for unlicensed use are reasonable and in the public interest after considering future homeland security, national security, and other spectrum users. Nothing here gives unlicensed users or users licensed by rule under part 96 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations extra protection from harmful interference.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §1507

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Statement of policy

It is the policy of the United States—

(1)to maximize the benefit to the people of the United States of the spectrum resources of the United States;

(2)to advance innovation and investment in wireless broadband services; and

(3)to promote spectrum policy that makes available on an unlicensed basis radio frequency bands to address consumer demand for unlicensed wireless broadband operations.

(b)Commission responsibilities

The Commission shall ensure that the efforts of the Commission related to spectrum allocation and assignment made available on an unlicensed basis radio frequency bands to address demand for unlicensed wireless broadband operations if doing so is, after taking into account the future needs of homeland security, national security, and other spectrum users—

(1)reasonable; and

(2)in the public interest.

(c)Rule of construction

Nothing in this section confers any additional rights on unlicensed users or users licensed by rule under part 96 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to protection from harmful interference.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 1507

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110