Plenary Session

Title: Unlocking the Spectrum: How Policy and Innovation Can Deliver Spectrum Access for All

Dr. Paul Ransom
Office of Spectrum Management

Abstract: As global demand for wireless connectivity continues to surge, the way we manage and use the radio frequency spectrum is entering a period of rapid change. This keynote will explore the critical role of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and its Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) in guiding this transformation.

We'll look ahead to the studies required under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, outlining their goals and the potential impact they could have on future spectrum policy. While these studies are still in the planning stages, they represent a pivotal opportunity to shape how spectrum is accessed and shared in the years to come.

A particularly exciting area of innovation is the rapid commercialization of space-based communications. With a renewed regulatory focus on space-streamlining satellite licensing, updating orbital debris rules, and opening up vast swaths of satellite spectrum-new services are emerging that promise to reshape global connectivity. Among the most promising is direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service, which is already enabling basic emergency communications and messaging directly to consumer smartphones. These early offerings, driven by partnerships between mobile and satellite operators, are expected to expand dramatically, bringing us closer to a future where seamless, global, device-level connectivity is a reality. Finally, we'll highlight the importance of dynamic sharing and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning and how these innovations are opening new possibilities.

Biography: Dr. Paul Ransom is the Acting Chief of the Strategic Planning Division in the Office of Spectrum Management, the Division and Office of Spectrum Management lead national efforts to shape the future of spectrum policy and planning. He currently chairs the Spectrum Relocation Fund Technical Panel, a congressionally mandated body that approves funding for spectrum research and engineering studies aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of federal spectrum use. The panel also ensures federal spectrum transition plans support auction timelines, promote relocation or sharing of spectrum, and enable the recovery of federal investments.

Dr. Ransom served as the technical lead for the 2024 National Spectrum Strategy and Implementation Plan, a landmark initiative that reflects his leadership and deep expertise in spectrum management. Since joining the division in 2020, he has played a central role in federal spectrum repurposing efforts and serves as the NTIA liaison to the National Science Foundation's Spectrum Innovation Initiative, supporting research and innovation in advanced spectrum technologies.

With over 20 years of federal service, Dr. Ransom brings a wealth of experience across defense, science, and telecommunications domains. He began his career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, Maryland, conducting advanced research in electromagnetic materials for radar cross section (RCS) reduction and performing both field and laboratory RCS measurements. He later served as a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research in the Sea Weapons and Warfare Department (now the Advanced Naval Platforms Department), and as Chief Technologist in NOAA's Radio-Frequency Interference Monitoring System Project Management Office, supporting the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

Dr. Ransom holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Southern University and A&M College, an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Catholic University of America.