Spectrum Engineering

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for developing and articulating domestic and international telecommunications policy. Accordingly, NTIA conducts studies and makes recommendations regarding telecommunications policies and presents Executive Branch views on telecommunications matters to the Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the public. NTIA also serves as manager of the Federal Government's use of the radio frequency spectrum. President Clinton signed an executive memorandum dated October 13, 2000, that stated the need and urgency for the United States to select radio frequency spectrum to satisfy the future needs of the citizens and businesses for mobile voice, high speed data, and Internet-accessible wireless capability; the guiding principles to be used for the development of third generation (3G) wireless systems; and the direction to the Federal agencies to carry out the selection of spectrum. The President directed the Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the FCC, to issue interim reports by November 15, 2000 describing the current spectrum uses and the potential for reallocating or sharing the bands identified at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC–2000) for 3G wireless systems. The FCC, in conjunction with NTIA, is expected to identify spectrum by July 2001, and auction licenses to competing applicants by September 30, 2002. In response to the President’s memorandum, this interim report provides an examination of Federal operations in the1755–1850 MHz band, and a discussion of the potential for accommodating 3G, advanced mobile telecommunications systems in the band.

Recent advances in microcircuit and other technologies have allowed the use of very narrow pulses (typically less than a nanosecond) with very wide bandwidths in new applications in both radar and communication devices. These devices, called Ultrawideband (UWB) devices, may have instantaneous bandwidths of 25 percent or more of their center frequency. They are capable of locating nearby objects and can use processing technology to “see through walls” and communicate in multipath propagation environments, which makes them useful in many commercial and government applications. The developers of UWB devices, because of their low output power, low manufacturing cost, and anticipated wide marketability are seeking authorization from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate UWB systems on an unlicensed basis.

On behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has prepared this report to the President and the Congress as required by Title X of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (NDAA-2000). NDAA-2000 requires NTIA to convene an interagency review and assessment of certain spectrum reallocation issues in coordination with the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and with Federal executive agencies via the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). The review includes: 1) Progress made in implementation of national spectrum planning; and 2) The spectrum reallocations made in accordance with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA-93) and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA-97), and the resulting implications to Federal executive agencies.

This report provides an assessment of electromagnetic spectrum reallocation from Federal to private-sector use in accordance with requirements of Title VI of OBRA-93 and Title III of BBA-97. The report, addressing progress in national spectrum planning, implications of past spectrum reallocation actions, and anticipated impact of future potential reallocations, was prepared in coordination with affected Federal agencies, and the FCC. As directed by NDAA-2000, the assessment focused particular attention on impacts of such reallocations on military capabilities, civil space programs, and Federal public safety systems.