The FAS major function is the assigning and coordination of radio frequencies for federal government agencies and the development and execution of procedures relating to these functions.

The FAS consist of a representative appointed by each of the following departments and agencies:

• Agriculture
• Air Force
• Army
• Broadcasting Board of Governors
• Coast Guard
• Commerce
• Energy
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Communications Commission
• Transportation
• Homeland Security
• Interior
• Justice
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation
• National Security Agency
• Navy
• Treasury
• U.S. Postal Service
• Veterans Affairs

The FAS meets once a month (usually the third Wednesday) to address frequency assignment issues brought before the group that require discussion and resolution involving the whole membership. Normal frequency assignments actions are addressed by voting on a daily basis; request for radio licenses and many problems are solved by coordination among the affected government agencies representatives. Problems that can not be solved by local coordination can be referred to the FAS and addressed at the monthly meeting. Improvements and refinements to the frequency assignment process are also addressed as items on the monthly FAS agendas.

The officers of the FAS shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary.

Mailing addresses are:

Chairman
Mr. Thomas F. Woods, Jr.
National Telecommunications & Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 1085 HCHB
1401 Constitution Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: 202-482-2802
Fax: 202-482-1133
E-mail: twoods@ntia.doc.gov

Vice Chairman
Mr. John R. McFall
National Telecommunications & Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 1085 HCHB
1401 Constitution Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: 202-482-1486
Fax: 202-482-1133
E-mail: jmcfall@ntia.doc.gov

Secretary
Ms. Phillis Brown
National Telecommunications & Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 1805 HCHB
1401 Constitution Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone: 202-482-1482
Fax: 202-482-1133
E-mail: PHbrown@ntia.doc.gov

The Aeronautical Advisory Group (AAG) of the FAS is chaired by the FAA. The AAG is responsible for engineering frequency assignments and determining whether or not applications for frequency assignment action in certain designated bands of primary concern to the aeronautical mobile and aeronautical radio navigation services should be approved by NTIA. The members of the AAG consist of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Departments of Air Force, Army, and Navy. The following frequency bands are the responsibility of the AAG group:

• 190-285 kHz
• 285-435 kHz *
• 510-535 kHz *
• 74.8000-75.2000 MHz
• 108.000-121.9375 MHz
• 123.5875-128.8125 MHz
• 132.0125-137.0000 MHz
• 328.6000-335.4000 MHz
• 978-1020 MHz inclusive
• 1030 MHz
• 1031-1087 MHz inclusive
• 1090 MHz
• 1104-1146 MHz inclusive
• 1157-1213 MHz inclusive
• 5000-5250 MHz
  
  * In these bands only applications for stations in the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service shall be sent to the Chairman of the AAG.

The Military Advisory Group (MAG) of the FAS is chaired by the Air Force. The MAG is responsible for determining whether or not applications for frequency assignments in certain designated bands of primary concern to the military agencies should be approved by NTIA. The members of the MAG shall consist of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Departments of the Air Force, Army, and Navy. The following frequency bands are the responsibility of the AAG group:

• 225-328.6 MHz
• 335.4000-399.9000 MHz

If you have requested a frequency that is in the shared government/non government bands or exclusive government bands then coordination with NTIA is required.

This coordination is processed through the FCC Gettysburg, Pa office and is forwarded to the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) office in Washington D.C. who then forwards the request to NTIA. For those FCC applicants who are requesting Aeronautical Bands an additional review for engineering is done by the FAA prior to submission to NTIA. The FAA review time depends on the applicant having completed prior regional coordination with the local FAA coordinator and submitting required forms to the FAA and the FCC.

Approval from NTIA for FCC applications usually takes 9 workdays. However, if an interference problem is identified or additional information is required the application is tabled and the FCC OET office is notified.

If your FCC application has not been approved in a reasonable amount of time and you are informed that it is at IRAC or NTIA; please call the FCC OET representative at 202-418-2469 for status.