Overview
Spectrum is the range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used to transmit sound, data, and video across the country. It is what carries voice between cell phones, television shows from broadcasters to your TV, and online information from one computer to the next, wirelessly. The Spectrum Dashboard allows new ways for citizens to search spectrum in the United States. The system allows you to find out how spectrum is being used, who owns spectrum licenses around the county, and what spectrum is available in your county. The following APIs represent a step toward improving how the FCC makes information available to the public.
Understanding Your Results
The data and analyses provided in the Spectrum Dashboard are for informational purposes and research assistance only. The Spectrum Dashboard does not constitute the official licensing records for the Commission. Specifically, the FCC makes no representations regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information maintained in the Spectrum Dashboard.
The data and analysis contained herein are not relied upon by the Commission in analyzing the competitive marketplace or assessing the spectrum holdings of wireless service providers in any particular geographic area.
The Spectrum Dashboard is also not an endorsement by the FCC of any particular service, technology, product, or service provider, and the FCC makes no representations or warranties about the provision of service on the spectrum included in this database.
Users should be aware that matters not reflected in the Spectrum Dashboard may relate to and affect the status of FCC licenses, including spectrum leasing arrangements, transactions pending before the FCC, transactions approved by the FCC but not consummated by applicants, future proceedings before the FCC, or actions in the courts. Further, actions taken by the FCC that may affect the status of licenses will not be reflected in the Spectrum Dashboard until the next system update.
getSpectrumBands
Description
This API accepts a frequency range and returns a list of the frequency bands along with a high level description of how the band is allocated and for what uses within the 225 MHz and 3700 MHz frequency range. The API returns the lower and upper frequencies of each band and a band description including the radio services operating within the band, whether the band is allocated for federal or non-federal use, and whether the band permits unlicensed operation.
This API has been updated to also return the search criteria and the date that the data in the Spectrum Dashboard database was last updated.
Why We Provide It
This API provides a high level overview of the spectrum bands deemed appropriate for mobile broadband (225 MHz to 3700 MHz), and the radio services operating within these bands.
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- api call
- http://data.fcc.gov/api/spectrum-view/services/advancedSearch/getSpectrumBands
- sample call
- http://data.fcc.gov/api/spectrum-view/services/advancedSearch/getSpectrumBands?frequencyFrom=226&frequencyTo=900
- parameters
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- frequencyFrom (Optional) – If a frequency range is not provided then the API will return all spectrum bands falling within the 225 to 3700 MHz range. Both a lower and upper frequency value must be provided when entering search criteria.
- frequencyTo (Optional) – If a frequency range is not provided then the API will return all spectrum bands falling within the 225 to 3700 MHz range. Both a lower and upper frequency value must be provided when entering search criteria.
- pageNum (Optional) – Default is 1.
- sortColumn (Optional) – Default is lowerBand. Valid values are: lowerBand, upperBand, or desc.
- sortOrder (Optional) – Default is asc. Valid values are: asc, desc.
- pageSize (Optional) – Default value is 1000.
- limit (Optional) – Default value is 100.
- format (Optional) – Default value is xml. Valid values are: xml, json, jsonp
- jsonCallback (Optional) – Default value is callback.
- response
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- Error Response Codes
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- 2: The format is incorrect. The proper formats are xml, json or jsonp.
- 3: The limit must be an integer greater than 0
- 14: The pageNum field must be between 1 and 500,000
- 16: The sortOrder field must be either asc or desc.
- 17: The pageSize field must be between 1 and 1,000
- 25: The sortColumn field must be lowerBand, upperBand or desc.
- 30: Both a lower and upper frequency value falling within the 225 to 3700 MHz frequency range must be specified.
- 100: No matches found based on search criteria.
getLicenses
Description
This API returns a high level overview of who owns spectrum across the country within the 225 MHz to 3700 MHz frequency range in radio services deemed appropriate for mobile broadband use. The API returns the call sign, licensee name, common name, radio service code, radio service description, channel block, channel block frequency, market code and market description.
This API has been updated to also return the search criteria and the date that the data in the Spectrum Dashboard database was last updated.
Why We Provide It
This API provides detailed information about the licenses operating within a range of spectrum.
Additional Information
This API returns spectrum licenses in the following radio services: 700 MHz; 800 MHz Cellular; Advanced Wireless Service (AWS); Broadband Personal Communication Service (PCS); Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service (EBS); 2.3 GHz Wireless Communication Service (WCS); Full Power TV Broadcast and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS).
Users seeking a record of a particular license are urged to utilize the Commission's official databases, such as the Universal Licensing System (ULS), International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), and Consolidated Data Base System (CDBS), instead.
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- api call
- http://data.fcc.gov/api/spectrum-view/services/advancedSearch/getLicenses
- sample call
- http://data.fcc.gov/api/spectrum-view/services/advancedSearch/getLicenses?name=AT&radioservice=Cellular
- parameters
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- name (Optional)
- radioservice (Optional)
- frequencyFrom (Optional)
- frequencyTo (Optional)
- county (Optional)
- state (Optional)
- pageNum (Optional) – Default is 1.
- sortColumn (Optional) – Default is commonName. Valid values are: callsign, licenseeName, commonName, radioServiceCode, rscDesc, channelBlock, frequencyLowerBand, frequencyUpperBand, marketcode, or marketDesc.
- sortOrder (Optional) – Default is asc. Valid values are: asc, desc.
- pageSize (Optional) – Default value is 1000.
- limit (Optional) – Default value is 100.
- format (Optional) – Default value is xml. Valid values are: xml, json, jsonp
- jsonCallback (Optional) – Default value is callback.
- response
-
- Error Response Codes
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- 2: The format is incorrect. The proper formats are xml, json or jsonp.
- 3: The limit must be an integer greater than 0
- 14: The pageNum field must be between 1 and 500,000
- 15: The sortColumn field must be callsign, licenseeName, commonName, radioServiceCode, rscDesc, channelBlock, frequencyLowerBand, frequencyUpperBand, marketCode, or marketDesc.
- 16: The sortOrder field must be either asc or desc.
- 17: The pageSize field must be between 1 and 1,000
- 27: Only one name is allowed for a given API call. Wildcards are accepted.
- 28: Only one callsign is allowed for a given API call. Wildcards are accepted.
- 30: Both a lower and upper frequency value falling within the 225 to 3700 MHz frequency range must be specified.
- 40: All counties provided must fall within the same state. State code must contain 2 characters.
- 100: No matches found based on search criteria.
