Spectrum Engineering

The purpose of this handbook is to provide the radio frequency (RF) analyst with the capability to calculate the effects of noise and interference on RF communications receivers. A receiver is modeled as a sequence of modules. Each module has a transfer function that relates the module outputs to the module inputs. By consecutively analyzing each module in the sequence, the analyst can then relate the receiver outputs (performance) to the receiver inputs (signal characteristics).

This report describes how the current frequency assignment process influences spectrum efficiency in the federal land mobile radio frequency bands. In light of the increasing demands for land mobile radio communications, federal spectrum managers must use frequency assignment methods that accurately represent interference to and from systems in the environment to ensure that spectrum is used efficiently. The results of this report will be used to support the implementation of an interference-based frequency assignment process that will improve spectrum efficiency. Standardizing the interference analysis methodologies used in identifying interference-free frequencies in the land mobile radio bands will also improve the overall effectiveness of the federal agencies in performing their missions.

On October 14, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopted a Report and Order that defined new Part 15 rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) contributed to the Commission’s work by providing analysis to support recommendations for refinements in the rules and measurement guidelines in comments and staff correspondence filed in response to the Commission’s earlier BPL Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The NTIA Phase 2 study of Access BPL systems expands on its earlier Phase 1 study by providing additional modeling results and analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of the FCC’s rules and measurement guidelines in minimizing the potential for harmful interference to federal radiocommunication systems under worst-case conditions.