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IRAC Functions and Responsibilities

The basic function of the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) is to assist the Assistant Secretary in assigning frequencies to U.S. Government radio stations and in developing and executing policies, programs, procedures, and technical criteria pertaining to the allocation, management, and use of the spectrum. The IRAC consists of a main committee, 6 subcommittees, and several ad hoc working groups that consider various aspects of spectrum management policy.

The IRAC consists of a representative appointed by each of the following member departments and agencies:

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

together with such other departments and agencies as the Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Spectrum Management may hereafter designate.

The following nonmembers are represented, at their request, through the IRAC Representative of the member shown:

Agency
Represented by
Federal Reserve System Treasury
International Boundary and
Water Commission (U.S. Section)
Interior
Tennessee Valley Authority Interior

Liaison between the IRAC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is effected by a representative appointed by the Commission to server in that capacity.

The IRAC's substructure consists of the Emergency Planning Subcommittee (EPS), the Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS), the Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS), the Space Systems Subcommittee (SPS), the Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS), the Technical Subcommittee (TSC), and the Secretariat. In addition, the IRAC has from time to time various ad hoc groups. The substructure of the FAS consists of the Aeronautical Assignment Group (AAG), the Military Assignment Group (MAG), and from time to time various working groups. The substructures of the SPS and TSC consist, from time to time, of various working groups.

The Aeronautical Assignment Group (AAG), chaired by the Federal Avaiation Administration, is responsible for engineering AAG frequency assignments and determining whether or not applications for frequency assignment action in the following bands should be approved by NTIA.

  • 190-285 kHz
  • 285-435 kHz *
  • 510-535 kHz *
  • 74.800-75.200 MHz
  • 108.000-121.9375 MHz
  • 123.5875-128.8125 MHz
  • 132.0125-137.000 MHz
  • 328.600-335.400 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 Assignment Group (MAG), chaired by the Department of the Air Force, is responsible for determining whether or not applications for frequency assignment action in the bands 225.0-328.6 and 335.4-399.9 MHz should be approved by NTIA.

NTIA also represents the following Federal authorities in one or more of the IRAC subcommittees: Architect of the Capitol, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Board for International Broadcasting, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Central Intelligence Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, General Accounting Office, U.S. Government Printing Office, House of Representatives, Housing and Urban Development, International Trade Commission, Department of Labor, Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Gallery of Art, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Peace Corps, Securities and Exchange Commission, Social Security Administration, Department of State, Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Senate, and the Smithsonian Institute.