Strategic Spectrum Plan

2007 Version

U.S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C.

March 2008

Table of Contents

Executive Summary....................................................................................................... 1

Summary of Key Spectrum Requirements.......................................................... 1

Mobile Service .......................................................................................................... 2

Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS).......................................................... 2

Meteorological Aids Service (MetAids)................................................................. 2

Radiodetermination Service (including Radiolocation and Radionavigation).2

Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) ................................................................................. 3

Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) .............................................................................. 3

Summary of Trends................................................................................................... 3

Summary of Key Strategies .................................................................................... 3

I. Introduction......................................................................................................... 4

Department of Commerce Mission........................................................................ 4

Strategic Vision for DOC Spectrum Management............................................. 5

Spectrum Requirements .......................................................................................... 5

II. Current Spectrum Use: Update of November 2005 Department of

Commerce Strategic Spectrum Plan ........................................................................ 6

Missions and Programs Supported ...................................................................... 6

Observing Systems................................................................................................... 6

Radars....................................................................................................................... 6

Satellite Passive Sensing .................................................................................... 8

Table 1: Passive Sensing Bands (receiving sensors on polar-orbiting

spacecraft)............................................................................................................. 10

Satellite Active Sensing ..................................................................................... 10

Table 2: Active Sensing Bands (sensors on polar-orbiting spacecraft)11

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).................................................. 11

Data Transmission Systems................................................................................. 11

Hydrologic Radio Systems................................................................................ 11

Meteorological Satellite Data Transmission................................................. 12

Table 3: NOAA MetSat Data Transmission Bands..................................... 13

Water Level Monitoring ...................................................................................... 13

Radiosonde Systems (including dropsondes)............................................. 13

Wildlife and Fish Tracking System.................................................................. 14

Table 4: Wildlife and Fish Tracking Spectrum Requirements ................. 15

Video Transmission............................................................................................. 15

Commercial Satellite Services.......................................................................... 15

Table 5: Commercial Satellite Service Current and Future

Requirements........................................................................................................ 16

Meteorburst Communications.......................................................................... 16

Hurricane Reconnaissance Aircraft Communications .............................. 17

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Operations ............................................. 17

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)................................................................. 17

Dissemination Systems.......................................................................................... 18

Terrestrial Broadcast .......................................................................................... 18

Broadcast Media................................................................................................... 19

Communication and Telemetry Systems........................................................... 20

Land Mobile Radio............................................................................................... 20

Maritime Communications................................................................................. 21

Commercial Satellite Phone.............................................................................. 21

Cell Phone.............................................................................................................. 22

Wireless Ethernet................................................................................................. 22

Amateur Radio...................................................................................................... 23

SARSAT.................................................................................................................. 23

FedSMR Program................................................................................................. 24

BIS Land Mobile Radio Network ...................................................................... 26

HF Radio................................................................................................................. 26

Research Test and Development......................................................................... 27

Land Mobile Radio, Project 25.......................................................................... 28

Shared Spectrum Testing.................................................................................. 28

Feasibility of Spectrum Sharing ......................................................................... 29

Feasibility of Using Commercial Alternatives.................................................. 30

Feasibility of Using Non-spectrum Sources..................................................... 30

New Technologies and Improved Spectrum Efficiency ................................ 30

COOP/COG implications........................................................................................ 30

Technologies and Expanded Services requiring spectrum (2005-2015) ...... 30

New Technologies and Improved Spectrum Efficiency ................................ 31

COOP/COG implications........................................................................................ 32

International Issues................................................................................................. 32

Impact of Unavailable Spectrum.......................................................................... 32

IV. Current and Future Use of Non-Federal Spectrum Offered by

Commercial Service Providers................................................................................. 32

Broadcast Media....................................................................................................... 32

Commercial Satellite Services.............................................................................. 32

Commercial Satellite Phone.................................................................................. 33

Cell Phone.................................................................................................................. 33

V. Current and Future Use of Non-Licensed Devices..................................... 33

VI. New Technologies ....................................................................................... 33

VII. Strategic Spectrum Planning............................................................................ 33

DOC Spectrum Management................................................................................. 33

DOC Office of the Secretary, and Office of Security ........................................ 34

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .......................................... 34

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).......... 34

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ................................................................ 34

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) .................................. 34

Census Bureau (within the Economics and Statistics Administration) .......... 34

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)..................................................... 35

DOC Strategic Spectrum Plan Approval Process........................................... 37

Strategic Spectrum Planning- DOC Budget, Planning, Programming, and

Operational Execution............................................................................................ 37

iii

Strategic Spectrum Planning- System Certification and Frequency

Assignment Requests ............................................................................................ 37

Contact information................................................................................................. 38

ANNEX A- Table Summary of DOC Radio Applications.................................... 39

ANNEX B- DOC Office and Bureau Spectrum Requirements Points of

Contact............................................................................................................................ 49

ANNEX C- Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................... 50

Note: The organization of this document reflects conformance with requirements

established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to

standardize strategic spectrum plans across all federal government agencies. It is not

optimized for presentation of the specific strategic spectrum plan of the Department of

Commerce.

Executive Summary

The Department of Commerce (DOC) developed this Strategic Spectrum Plan

in response to the Presidential Spectrum Reform Initiative and a November 29,

2004, Presidential Memorandum. Strategic Spectrum Plan objectives, specified

by Secretary Gutierrez, are to provide:

• spectrum requirements, including bandwidth and frequency location for

future technologies or services;

• planned uses of new technologies or expanded services requiring

spectrum over a period of time agreed to by the selected agencies; and

• suggested spectrum-efficient approaches to meet identified spectrum

requirements.

This plan accomplishes these objectives through identification of DOC’s diverse

spectrum requirements. These requirements range in frequency from 20 kHz to

over 316 GHz. Applications range from law enforcement operations to

scientific applications. They include spectrum for active operation and the

protection of passive bands that are critical to monitoring the Earth’s

environment and to predicting weather. The Department of Commerce’s use of

the valuable spectrum resource directly supports and helps protect our Nation’s

$1,621.8 billion/year in foreign trade exports (for 2007), $31.6 billion/year

commercial fishing industry, $141.5 billion/year of agriculture, and other

sectors of our Nation’s economy. Critical DOC programs reduce loss of life

and prevent billions of dollars in property damage each year through its

hurricane and severe weather prediction and warning services. These services

could not be provided without access to and protection of vital radio frequency

spectrum

Summary of Key Spectrum Requirements

Table A1 in Annex A provides a summary, in tabular form, of all DOC spectrum

requirements. This table was developed based on the detailed inputs from the

DOC offices and bureaus. Table A1 indicates the DOC spectrum requirements

will increase for only a limited number of applications. A summary of DOC

requirements, broken down by radio service, follows:

Fixed Service - DOC fixed service spectrum use includes emergency

communications, standard time transmission, and providing feeds to weather

radio transmitters, collecting climatological data from remote locations, and

operating control links between offices and remote equipment such a radars.

Requirements include access to spectrum ranging from 3 MHz to nearly 2 GHz.

The only identified change in fixed service spectrum requirements over the next

10 years is the modernization of the existing 1,221 United States Historical

Climatology Network (USHCN) Studies are currently underway to determine the

communication technologies to support HCN-M (Modernization). One of the

technologies being investigated would consist of an infrastructure integrating

optimized solutions within a hybrid network consisting of VHF/UHF, Satellite,

TCP/IP, and Meteor Burst. All technologies would be based on digital electronics

in order to provide the most efficient spectrum requirement.

Mobile Service - DOC requires radio spectrum for the mobile service for typical

LMR applications as well as a number of specialized applications. Some of these

applications include research, development, test and evaluation (RDTE), law

enforcement, telemetry for tracking of marine mammals and fish, telemetry for

remote control of research equipment, and broadcast of weather and hazards

warnings to the public via weather radio. No significant changes in mobile

spectrum requirements are anticipated with the possible exception of some small

segments of spectrum needed for the Government to conduct specialized

telemetry operations.

Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) - DOC is a large user of EESS

spectrum, including allocations to the meteorological satellite (MetSat) service.

Access to EESS and MetSat spectrum is critical to maintain control of their

satellites, transmit data, and operate active and passive sensors for atmospheric

and Earth surface sensing. It is the passive sensor operations that are so sensitive

to operational frequency. If passive sensing systems were required to vacate

bands providing unique measurement characteristics, the operational capability

will be lost.

Meteorological Aids Service (MetAids) - DOC operates a large number of

radiosonde and dropsonde systems under the MetAids radio service. These

systems support meteorological operations and atmospheric research within DOC.

The data from these systems are critical to COOP and Homeland Security

operations, in particular in plume modeling. No significant changes are

anticipated in MetAids spectrum requirements. NOAA has upgraded 52% of its

of radiosonde technology for the operational network so as to reduce the spectrum

requirement by approximately 50%. The new reduced requirement is reflected in

this plan.

Radiodetermination Service (including Radiolocation and Radionavigation) -

DOC requirements for radiodetermination spectrum come from NOAA and NTIA

radar operations. In the U.S. Table of Allocations, meteorological radars are

categorized under the MetAids service. In the International Table of Frequency

Allocations they operate under the radiodetermination service. Systems operated

by DOC include ground-based and airborne meteorological radars and wind

profiler radars. The change in spectrum requirements relating to meteorological

radars is the possible use of the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the

Atmosphere (CASA) concept for deploying of gap filler radars operating in the

9.41 GHz +/- 30 MHz range NOAA is transitioning the NOAA Profiler Network

(NPN) from 404.37 MHz to 449 MHz.

Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) - DOC relies on commercial fixed satellite service

allocations for satellite connectivity between NOAA facilities. Procurement of

commercial satellite services is the most cost effective manner for meeting the

Government’s needs. DOC requirements for commercial satellite service are

expected to increase in the future. Federal acquisition policies and the Federal

Government spectrum regulatory rules require Federal agencies to use

commercial services, where available and applicable. Current United States

spectrum regulatory rules increase cost significantly and discourage government

use of commercial satellite service providers. For Government operations

employing the use of commercial satellite services to be protected, in addition to

the satellite system, the satellite ground station must be commercially licensed

and operated as well. This frequently requires the government to enter into costly

third party contracts with commercial providers to license and operate the ground

stations. Changing United States spectrum regulatory policy to allow government

operation of the ground station on a protected basis, as are other commercial

satellite service customers, will reduce costs and encourage further use of

commercial service providers.

Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) - DOC relies on mobile satellite spectrum for

satellite telephone applications in support of maritime operations, law

enforcement, and COOP. Mobile satellite provides connectivity in areas where

terrestrial networks are not available. DOC requirements for mobile satellite

phone services are not expected to increase significantly in the next 10 years. In

addition, the Search and Rescue Satellite (SARSAT) portion of the COPSAS-

SARSAT system, a system operating in the MSS, is under the operational control

of DOC (NOAA).

Summary of Trends – For DOC, the trend that most impacts spectrum use is

increasing data resolution (spatial and temporal) in Earth observing systems,

allowing a better understanding of climate change and improvement in weather

forecast and severe weather warning capabilities. Higher data resolution requires

greater bandwidth for data transmission. In addition, improved protection of the

RF-based observing sensors is required. Higher resolution data will be of little

use of the data is corrupted by interference.

Summary of Key Strategies – To ensure the DOC spectrum requirements

continue to be met, DOC ORFM has established the following four strategic

goals:

• Engage in domestic and international venues to ensure changes in

spectrum regulations support economic growth while protecting DOC

operations.

• Promote cooperation among DOC offices conducting operations,

Government laboratories, and academia to ensure the necessary spectrum

resources are available to develop, test, and deploy new technologies.

• Participate in international coordination meetings (SFCG and WMO SG-

RFC)

to promote the availability of spectrum for global earth observation

systems.

• Increase spectrum efficiency using new technologies, promoting spectrum

sharing, and utilizing commercial services where available.

I. Introduction

Department of Commerce Mission

The mission of the Department of Commerce is to “create conditions for

economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship,

competitiveness and stewardship.” Within this mission the Department of

Commerce has established three strategic goals

• Goal 1: Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness

and enable economic growth for American industries, workers and

consumers.

• Goal 2: Foster science and technological leadership by protecting

intellectual property, enhancing technical standards, and advancing

measurement science.

• Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources to promote

environmental stewardship.

DOC has diverse spectrum requirements ranging in frequency from 20 kHz to

over 316 GHz. Access to radio spectrum for the DOC offices and bureaus

supports meeting all three DOC mission goals. Applications range from law

enforcement operations to scientific applications. They include spectrum for

active operations and the use of passive bands that are critical to monitoring the

Earth’s environment and to predicting weather. The Department of

Commerce’s use of the valuable spectrum resource directly supports and helps

protect our Nation’s $1,621.8 billion/year in foreign trade exports, $31.6

billion/year fishing industry, $141.5 billion/year of agriculture, and other sectors

of our Nation’s economy. Critical DOC programs reduce loss of life and

prevent billions of dollars in property damage each year through its hurricane

and severe weather prediction and warning services. These services could not

be provided without access to and protection of vital radio frequency spectrum.

DOC spectrum requirements were identified through a review of the

Government Master File (GMF), which contains information on over 9,000

The SFCG is the Space Frequency Coordination Group and the WMO SG-RFC is the World

Meteorological Organization Steering Group on Radio Frequency Coordination.

The Department of Commerce Strategic Plan can be obtained at

http://www.osec.DOC.gov/bmi/budget/Strategic04-1002.htm

DOC frequency assignments, and through spectrum requirement information

requests made to DOC offices and bureaus.

Strategic Vision for DOC Spectrum Management

Radio frequency spectrum is a limited resource, access to which is critical to

meeting Department's strategic goals, our national economy, and public safety.

DOC manages its use of this resource to ensure availability of the spectrum

required to meet its operational requirements while making efficient use of radio

frequency spectrum. Meeting its Departmental spectrum requirements with

increasing commercial, public, and government demand for spectrum access,

will require continued efforts to increasing spectrum efficiency using new

technologies, promoting spectrum sharing, and utilizing commercial services

where available.

Value of DOC Spectrum Use

The DOC operates a wide variety of spectrum-reliant systems. The table in

Annex 1 summarizes the DOC spectrum requirements. The spectrum

requirements support our Nation’s economy in many diverse ways. Spectrum is

required for safety and security, atmospheric and marine research, weather

forecasting and severe weather warnings, and telecommunications research. All

these uses of spectrum ensure safety and support economic prosperity of the

U.S. Below are a few representative examples.

• The IEOS Strategic Plan

indicates “national institutions that contribute

weather, climate, public health, and water services to their citizens contribute

an estimated $20-$40 billion dollars each year to their national economies.”

Furthermore, “weather- and climate-sensitive industries, both directly and

indirectly, account for as much as 1/3 of our Nation’s GDP- $4 trillion in 2005

dollars.”

• The NOAA Strategic Plan also states “Ocean resources account for a

significant portion of the U.S. economy, and recent estimates indicate that

coastal areas provide 28 million jobs, millions of dollars in goods and

services, and tourist destinations for 180 million Americans per year.” The

NOAA Strategic Plan also indicates “The value of the ocean economy to the

Unites States is over $115 billion” and the “United States manages the largest

marine territory of any nation in the world.”

• The USTPO Strategic Plan states, “There are an estimated seven million

pending applications in the examination pipeline.” Many of these applications

are critical to the intellectual property rights of U.S. industry and the

economic prosperity of our Nation.

Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System.

• The dollar value of the U.S. landscaping industry for 2002 was greater

than $52 billion. Landscaping accounts for 2.9 percent of all fresh water

usage in the U.S., consuming nearly 10 billion gallons per day. Benefits are

realized from improved wind speed, humidity, and precipitation forecasts that

result in reduced excess irrigation and fewer wasted fertilizer/pesticide

applications.

For private sector spectrum use, income gained through spectrum use versus

capital expended to license and use spectrum is easily quantifiable. In the case

of DOC spectrum use it is more difficult to determine the dollar value of

protecting our National security, economic prosperity, public safety, and the

value of providing reliable weather forecasts to the public and industry. While

it is difficult to quantify the value of radio spectrum to the DOC mission, access

to radio spectrum is critical to carrying out the DOC mission. It is not sufficient

to just ensure adequate bandwidth is available for all operations; some systems

must be operated in specific ranges of the radio spectrum. Meteorological radar

performance can be enhanced, or limited, depending on whether an appropriate

frequency range is used. Satellite passive sensors require specific frequencies to

detect conditions in the atmosphere and on the Earth’s surface.

II. Current Spectrum Use: Update of November 2005 Department of

Commerce Strategic Spectrum Plan

Missions and Programs Supported

For purposes of this spectrum plan, the details of DOC systems and spectrum

requirements are not arranged by radio services, but by applications. Some

applications span more than one radio service. DOC spectrum requirements can

be divided in the following application categories: Observing Systems, Data

Transmission Systems, Dissemination Systems, Communications Systems, and

Research, Test and Development.

Observing Systems-

Due to the nature of many NOAA operations, Observing Systems constitute the

largest use of spectrum within DOC. Observing systems operated by NOAA are

critical to the accomplishment of the NOAA mission. The diversity of NOAA

observing systems allows NOAA to support commerce and transportation, and

serve the public’s need for weather, water, climate, and ecosystem observation. A

spectrum-reliant observing system is a system where spectrum is used directly for

measurement of atmospheric or environmental conditions. Spectrum for

observing systems account for 65% of the frequency assignments held by DOC.

Radars - NOAA operates a variety of ground-based and airborne

meteorological radars. The NEXRAD program is the largest DOC user of

radar spectrum, but other NOAA radar applications include airborne

weather radars operated on cyclone reconnaissance aircraft, wind profiler

radars, and transportable radars for atmospheric research. Meteorological

radars contribute to the NOAA Weather and Water mission goal by

providing real-time accurate weather information.

The WSR-88D radar, operated under the NEXRAD program, has been

instrumental in significantly improving the lead-time for severe weather,

tornado, and flash flood warnings in the United States. The WSR-88D,

operated in the band 2700-3000 MHz, is continuously undergoing

upgrades to integrate new technology for enhanced performance and

sustainable operations for at least 20 years. The requirements for

spectrum to support the NEXRAD program are not anticipated to change

in the next 10 years.

NOAA has ongoing work or interest in other meteorological radar bands.

The bands near 5625 MHz and 9.4 GHz are used for NOAA atmospheric

research applications. Clear air turbulence monitoring is also being

studied using radars operated in the 1 to 2 GHz range. Studies partially

funded by NOAA are underway to evaluate the use of small radars

operating near 9.4 GHz to fill gaps in areas where the tilt angle of the

NEXRAD and Earth curvature result in unmonitored areas low in the

atmosphere. Additional NOAA requirements for meteorological spectrum

around 9.4 GHz are possible in the next 10 to 15 years.

In 1992 NOAA deployed an experimental wind profiler demonstration

network, now called the NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) in the central

U.S. The demonstration network was assigned an experimental frequency

of 404.37 MHz, sharing the band with radiosonde and data collection

platforms. Emissions from the wind profilers operating on the

experimental frequency became a source of interference to the COSPAS-

SARSAT receivers on the NOAA polar-orbiting satellites. The NPN is

currently being transitioned to an operational observing network. As part

of the transition, NOAA will upgrade all the 404.37 MHz profilers,

changing the frequency to 449 MHz. Wind profiler use of 404.37 MHz is

anticipated to end by 2008. In addition to the 30 NPN, NOAA currently

operates 5 profilers at 449 MHz. The long-term wind profiler deployment

may include 100 wind profilers operating at 449 MHz.

NOAA may also have future requirements for spectrum to support wind

profiler radar operations in the 902-928 MHz range. This frequency range

will provide capabilities not possible at 449 MHz.

For 30 years NOAA has been working with oceanographic radars used for

monitoring the surface conditions of the sea near coastal areas. These

radars operate in the 3 to 30 MHz range, and near 42 MHz. Lower

frequencies provide longer-range detection of the sea surface, but at a

lower data resolution than can be achieved at higher frequencies. These

radars are operating on an experimental basis since no spectrum

allocations exist for their operation. DOC initiated the creation of a WRC-

11 agenda item to obtain allocations for operation of these radars (WRC

Agenda Item 1.15). Data from these radars is important for detection sea

surface conditions, and determining currents. Products support maritime

search and rescue as well as oceanographic, meteorological, climatological

and disaster response operations. The Coast Guard is interested in use of

data from the same radars for maritime domain awareness.

Satellite Passive Sensing - NOAA operates the two civilian operational

environmental satellite systems (Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental

Satellite – POES and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite –

GOES) that provide vital data in support of their mission. These satellites

carry an array of imaging and passive sensor (POES only) systems. While

the spectrum for data transmission and satellite control (discussed later) is

critical to NOAA operations, protection of bands used for passive sensors

is of extreme importance. Passive sensors are very low noise, ultra

sensitive receivers used to sense emissions from the Earth’s surface and

atmosphere. The sensors are designed to sense changes in radio frequency

(RF) levels on the order of tenths to hundredths of a decibel (dB), and

interference easily corrupts the sensor data. Changing frequency bands to

accommodate requirements of new spectrum users typically is not possible

since bands for passive sensing are selected based on physical properties

of the Earth and its atmosphere. The data from passive sensors improve

NOAA’s weather forecast capabilities.

In response to the first NOAA goal “To understand and predict changes in

the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine

resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social and environmental

needs.”, NOAA scientists are using satellite data to monitor the long-term

effects of heat stress on coral reefs in several areas of the world. NESDIS

now produces a weekly chart known as Degree Heating Week. These

satellite-derived charts allow scientists and reef managers to monitor the

cumulative thermal stress on several coral reefs, including Australia’s

Great Barrier Reef and those in the Bahamas and the Galapagos. An

example of the impact of NOAA’ polar-orbiting satellite in meeting the

second NOAA goal of climate variability is the long-term monitoring of

the Antarctic ozone hole. The record is more than 10 years in length and

provides a building climatology of the seasonal and annual variations of

one of the many climate change parameters. The constant monitoring of

tropical storms from their inception to their demise, and sometime U.S.

landfall, fulfills the third goal for the Nation’s need for weather and water

information. The search and rescue function on both polar-orbiting and

geostationary satellites supports the Nation’s commerce with information

for the safe and efficient transportation part of providing the critical

support for NOAA’s overall mission. Data from NOAA satellites are also

used to determine the safety of airline routes and flight plans, to reduce the

risk of damage to ships and cargo, and to issue weather forecasts and

warnings.

Table 1 summarizes the NOAA spectrum requirements for satellite

passive sensors for current and future meteorological satellite operations.

Table 1: Passive Sensing Bands (receiving sensors on polar-orbiting spacecraft)

Current and Future Requirements

Frequency Band

(GHz)

Instrument

6.425 – 7.025

Conical Microwave Imaging Sounder (CMIS)

10.6 - 10.7 CMIS

10.6 - 10.8 CMIS

23.6 - 24 Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) Sensor,

Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), CMIS

31.3 - 31.5 AMSU-A and ATMS

36 - 37 CMIS

50.2-50.4 AMSU-A, CMIS and ATMS

51.4 - 59.3 AMSU-A, CMIS and ATMS

59.3 – 60.55

CMIS

86 - 92 AMSU-A, Advanced Microwave Sounding

Unit-B (AMSU-B), ATMS and CMIS

148.5 –155.5 Microwave Humidity Sounder

164 - 167 ATMS and CMIS

174.8 - 191.8 AMSU-B, CMIS and Microwave Humidity Sounder

316 -334 CMIS

- Band not allocated to EESS (passive).

Satellite Active Sensing - NOAA has limited requirements, shown in

Table 2, for bands to perform satellite active sensing. Radar altimeters are

used to measure sea surface topography to an accuracy of approximately

4.2 cm. These operations support the NOAA Weather and Water, Climate

Variability, and Commerce and Transportation mission goals. Radar

altimeters allow scientists to observe and study both short-lived events

such as hurricanes and long-term climate phenomena such as the Pacific

Decadal Oscillation. They also provide the capability to monitor global

mean sea level, an indicator of global temperature change.

Table 2: Active Sensing Bands (sensors on polar-orbiting spacecraft)

Future Requirements

Frequency Band

(GHz)

Instrument

5.250 – 5.570 NPOESS Altimeter

13.25 - 13.75 NPOESS Altimeter

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) - The Global Positioning

System (GPS) and the Russian Federation GLONASS system are typically

used for navigation and position determination. In addition to the typical

uses, NOAA uses GNSS for observation systems. The RRS will rely on

GPS receivers integral to the radiosondes for measurement of winds. Use

of GPS will provide improved wind measurement accuracy relative to the

legacy system that relied on radio direction finding for tracking radiosonde

movement. NOAA is also researching the use of GNSS for measuring

atmospheric parameters such as refractivity, correction factors for remote

sensing and radar, and integrated precipitable water vapor. These

applications using GNSS support all four NOAA mission goals.

Data Transmission Systems - Radio-based data transmission systems, used for

transmission of data and non-voice communications between locations, are

necessary for NOAA operations. Many observing systems are operated in remote

areas where land-line is not available. The systems can be terrestrial-only or may

include a space component. This section does not include personal

communications systems.

Hydrologic Radio Systems - Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time

(ALERT) systems are locally owned and operated cooperator stream gage

water height collection networks transmitting on Federal hydrologic radio

frequencies. NTIA and the FCC have made special provisions in their

rules to allow local communities to use Federal spectrum to collect

hydrologic data for flash flood warning purposes, and share their

information with NOAA. Several thousand transmitters operate in the

162-174 MHz band, and a few hundred more operate in the 406-412 MHz

band on specific frequencies dedicated for hydrologic use. ALERT

systems support the NOAA Weather and Water mission goal by providing

data Federal, state and local agencies data critical to flood and flash flood

warnings. Some systems, with an increasing number in the future, are

capable of measuring wind speed and direction, critical to Homeland

Security operations.

Future spectrum planning should consider the operational impacts on local

governments and non-profit organizations if spectrum changes require

alteration or replacement of existing systems. The cost to the local

government may be substantial, and vary widely depending on the size,

scope, and complexity of each system. The initiative to transition the

operation of ALERT systems to FCC licenses held by the operator instead

of NOAA was complete in 2007.

NOAA is modernizing its Cooperator Observer Network by deploying

new sensor platforms and converting data reporting from a manual process

to an automated radio-based process.

Meteorological Satellite Data Transmission - The NOAA geostationary

and polar-orbiting meteorological satellites rely on radio spectrum for

transmission and reception of raw and processed sensor data, and for

control. Depending on the application, these links are operated under

EESS, MetSat or MSS frequency allocations. Table 3 provides the bands

required for NOAA MetSat data transmission.

For the relationship of these bands to the NOAA mission, refer to the

Passive Sensor section under Observing Systems.

There are no known technologies that can replace data transmission from

satellites orbiting the Earth carrying sensors that monitor its environment.

With both next generation polar-orbiting (NPOESS) and geostationary

(GOES-R) networks likely being launched before 2015, there will be a

significant increase in spectrum use due principally to sensors having

much greater complexity (greater sensitivity, higher resolution, both

spectrally and spatially) in the number of channels and resulting data rates.

However, the use of additional spectrum will result in a much better

understanding of the Earth and its environment. The increase in spectrum

use will be kept to a minimum through application of the latest

technologies resulting in more efficient modulation schemes, encoding,

compression, and filtering. The design of NPOESS is almost complete,

thereby limiting the extent to which further improvements in spectrum

efficiency can be accomplished. For GOES-R there is a significant radio

frequency communications design effort in place that is expected to

continue for several years. This effort has concentrated on examining the

latest technologies available regarding efficient modulation, encoding and

compression algorithms in order to achieve the maximum spectrum

efficiencies which will result in the greatest data throughput in the least

amount of radio frequency spectrum.

Table 3: NOAA MetSat Data Transmission Bands

Current and Future Requirements

Frequency Range

(MHz)

Function

Polar-Orbiting or

Geostationary

Operations

121.45 - 121.55 Emergency Position Beacons Polar

137-138 Data Transmission to Earth Polar

242.95 - 243.05 Emergency Position Beacons Polar

401 - 403 Data Collection Platform

Uplink

Polar

Geostationary

406.0 - 406.1 Emergency Position-

Indicating Radio Beacons

Polar

Geostationary

460 - 470 Data Collection Platform

Interrogation

Geostationary

Future Polar

1535 - 1559

Transmission of Emergency

Position Data to User

Terminals

Polar

Geostationary

1670 - 1710 Data Transmission to Earth Polar

Geostationary

2025 - 2110 Spacecraft Command Uplink Polar

Geostationary

2200 - 2290 Backup Data Transmission to

Earth

Polar

Geostationary

7190 - 7235 Data Transmission to

Spacecraft

Future Geostationary

7750 - 7850 Data Transmission to Earth Future Polar

8175 - 8215 Data Transmission to

Spacecraft

Future Geostationary

8025 - 8400 Data Transmission to Earth Future Geostationary

Future Polar

18,100 - 18,300 Data Transmission to Earth Future Geostationary

25,500 – 27,000 Stored Mission Data

Transmission to Earth

Future Polar

Water Level Monitoring - NOAA operates water level monitoring

equipment in shipping channels and ports to support maritime operations.

Transmission of the data from these systems is via data collection systems

operated on board geostationary and polar-orbiting meteorological

satellites, and terrestrial radio networks. Discussion of meteorological

satellite data transmission spectrum requirements is provided the previous

section.

Radiosonde Systems (including dropsondes) - Radiosondes are sensor

packages lifted through the atmosphere by a balloon or in the case of

dropsondes, dropped from aircraft. Sensor data is transmitted to a ground

station near the release point where the data is processed (based on the

aircraft in the case of dropsondes), and meteorological data products are

produced. Radiosonde data are used by NOAA and world-wide

meteorological community as a necessary input to the numeric weather

models and by NOAA researchers for atmospheric and climatologic

research. NOAA operates a synoptic network of 102 radiosonde stations,

each releasing a flight at 00 and 12 UTC. In addition, NOAA researchers

operate transportable radiosonde and dropsonde stations for atmospheric

research. Radiosondes are the only devices capable of providing in-situ

atmospheric measurements to an altitude of 30 kilometers. Dropsondes

are capable of data collection from flight level to within a few meters of

the earth’s surface, even over areas where radiosondes cannot be released.

Radiosonde data support the NOAA Weather and Water, Climate

Variability, and Commerce and Transportation mission goals. Synoptic

data improve the weather forecasters’ ability to increase weather and water

warning lead times and forecast accuracy, and improve the predictability,

onset, and impact of hazardous weather events. Data users include

Federal, and foreign metrological activities; atmospheric research; state

and local governments. In addition, the NOAA radiosonde system data

are critical to DHS and COOP missions by providing medium range

information on weather related events (rainfall, wind speed and direction,

severe weather events, etc.) and making the information readily available

to all Federal agencies.

Radiosondes and dropsondes are operated by NOAA in the allocated

bands 400.15-406 MHz and 1668.4-1700 MHz. With the deployment of

the RRS most synoptic operations are conducted within 1675-1683 MHz,

avoiding MetSat downlinks above 1683 MHz and commercial operations

below 1675 MHz. Several synoptic stations and most NOAA research

systems are operated in 400.15-406 MHz, which is shared extensively

with DOD and non-government research institutions. NOAA

requirements for radiosonde spectrum are anticipated to remain constant

over the next 5 to 10 years.

Wildlife and Fish Tracking Systems - Radio telemetry and direction

finding is used to track the movement and foraging behavior of wildlife

and fish. These tracking systems support the NOAA Ecosystems mission

goal. The technology and frequency range required varies with

application. NOAA currently operates several tracking systems and has

requirements for spectrum for additional systems.

Table 4: Wildlife and Fish Tracking Spectrum Requirements

System Application Current

Spectrum

Requirement

Future

Requirement

Comments

Marine Mammal Radio

Tags

Marine mammal

tracking

40 transmitters

operating in 164-

165 MHz

Expansion to 60

transmitters in

next 3 years

None

Satellite Linked Position

and Data Recording

Marine mammal

tracking

57 Units operating

at 401.650 MHz

Expansion to 125

units in the next 3

years

Operates on the

ARGOS system.

Fish Tags- System #1 Fish tracking

system

100 units

operating in 30.05

- 30.25 MHz

Same as current

requirement

None

Fish Tags- System #2 Transmit fish

electromyogram

data

Planned system Very low power

transmitters

operating at 151.4

MHz

None

VEMCO Fish Tracking Triangulation to

track salmon

movement in

Puget Sound

20 Listening

stations operating

at 458.54 MHz

Same as current

requirement

100 additional

listening stations

operated by other

entities support

NOAA

operations

Passive Integrated

Transponder/Transceiver

Salmon studies 20 systems

operating at 134.2

kHz

Second frequency

for non-salmonid

studies in 125 –

400 kHz range

Approximately

500 systems total

used in research

community

Video Transmission - NOAA uses remote-controlled video cameras for

continuous monitoring of wildlife from remote locations. Use of these

systems supports the NOAA Ecosystems mission goal. The systems are

operated at 1840 MHz where the transmitted video signal is relayed

through mountain-top repeaters. The spectrum requirements for this

system are not anticipated to change.

Commercial Satellite Services - Federal acquisition policies and the

Federal Government spectrum regulatory rules require Federal agencies to

use commercial services, where available and applicable, as opposed to

development and deployment of Government-owned and -operated

systems. NOAA uses commercial satellite services for support of its

operations. Transport of water and weather data and products between

NOAA facilities and to external customers is critical to the NOAA

mission. Use of commercial satellite services is the only economically

viable solution for global transport of data, supporting the NOAA Weather

and Water, and Mission Support goals. NOAA systems reliant on

commercial satellite services include the Alaska Tsunami Warning

Network, future NOAA Weather Radio Links (NWRL), the Automated

Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS), NOAA Weather Wire

Service (NWWS), and the International Satellite Communications System

(ISCS). In addition, NOAA relies on services provided via commercial

satellite communications like the NEXRAD Information Dissemination

System (NIDS) and MetLab. Table 5 provides a list of commercial

satellite applications used by NOAA. Requirements for commercial

satellite service are expected to increase.

Table 5: Commercial Satellite Service Current and Future Requirements

Application

Current Use

Earth

Stations

Future

Expansion

Band/

Bandwidth

Requirement

Service

Provider

Purpose

Tsunami Warning

Network

12 None

Anticipated

12/14 GHz

200 kHz

Intelsat

Transmit seismic data

from remote sites

AWIPS

125

None

Anticipated

4/6 GHz

8.6 MHz

Americom

Transmission of data an

products between NOAA

facilities

NWWS 20 transmit/

receive and

55 receive

None

Anticipated

4/6 GHz

Americom

Transmission of data to

national, state and local

offices

ISCS 93 Non

Anticipated

4/6 GHz

780 kHz

Intelsat

Worldwide transfer of

meteorological data and

products.

NWR Links Future

Requirement

> 800

Earth

Stations

Not

determined at

this time

Not

determined

at this time

Transmission of NOAA

Weather Radio

programming to

broadcast transmitter sites

NIDS 1 (TPC) None

Anticipated

Unknown Unknown

MetLab 1 (TPC) None

Anticipated

Unknown Unknown

GOES DCS ISP

Ground Control

1 Mission

termination

in 2 years.

12/14 GHz SES-

Americom

DOMSAT- GOES

DCS

1 None 12/14 GHz SES-

Americom

Mission requirement

through GOES R

program

DOMSAT- GOES

DCS Backup

1 None 12/14 Ghz SES-

Americom

Mission requirement

through GOES R

program

Meteorburst Communications - NOAA operates approximately 50

stations in the Alaska Meteor Burst Communication System (AMBCS).

AMBCS, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, was installed to

serve as a statewide, automated data collection system. AMBCS provides

a simple, cost-effective manner to collect data from remote data stations,

supporting the NOAA Weather and Water mission goal.

NOAA stations use two, 16 kHz wide channels in the range of 40 to 42

MHz to provide periodic connectivity at a throughput rate of 2 kBPS.

NOAA plans to expand the number of remote sites at a rate of

approximately 6 per year and data throughput may be upgraded to 4kBPS.

Despite these changes, spectrum requirements to support NOAA

operations on AMBCS should not change significantly in the next 10

years.

Hurricane Reconnaissance Aircraft Communications - Data

communications links operated between the U.S. Air Force Reserve

hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and the Tropical Prediction Center

(TPC) permit the real-time exchange of meteorological data as the aircraft

collects data near and in hurricanes. Real-time information flow between

reconnaissance aircraft and the TPC supports the NOAA Weather and

Water mission goal by increasing lead times and predictability of severe

weather and water events caused by tropical cyclones. The immediate

transmission of data, as it is collected, allows the TPC to issue more

accurate storm strength and track predictions reducing the uncertainty

associated with coastal evacuations and emergency planning.

The radio link for data transfer between reconnaissance aircraft and the

TPC is operated by the DOD in the 225-400 MHz band. NOAA is the

beneficiary of the data collected via the radio link operated by DOD.

These operations are conducted in support of NOAA by DOD using

military hardware, spectrum requirements for these operations are

established by DOD.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Operations - NOAA currently operates

one autonomous underwater vehicle and may acquire several additional

vehicles in the future. Deployment of the underwater vehicles supports

the NOAA Ecosystems mission goal. The vehicles are used for collecting

oceanographic data and for matching oceanographic data to foraging areas

of tracked marine mammals. The current NOAA system operates in the

902-928 MHz ISM band. Future systems are anticipated to require

access to spectrum other than in 902-928 MHz, preferably in the 400-500

MHz range.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)- NOAA has conducted joint

operations with NASA on a number of research projects using unmanned

aircraft systems. WRC-11 is tasked with consideration of spectrum issues

for UAS under agenda item 1.3. The DOC spectrum requirements for

NOAA UAS operations are still in the early development stages. ISM

bands have typically been used, and approvals from the FAA have been

necessary for operations.

Dissemination Systems - “Serving Society’s Need for Weather and Water

Information” and “Supporting the Nation’s Commerce with Information for Safe,

Efficient, and Environmentally Sound Transportation” makes the operation of

diverse number of information dissemination systems critical to NOAA

operations. These dissemination systems are designed to provide customized

products to the end user.

Terrestrial Broadcast - NOAA operates two terrestrial broadcast systems

for dissemination of weather information and warnings to the public and

emergency mangers. The broadcast systems operated by NOAA are

essential to supporting the Weather and Water mission goal.

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide system for providing

weather forecasts, current conditions and all-hazards emergency warnings

to the public, state and local governments, businesses and industry. Over

97% of the United States population is covered by NWR transmissions.

Approximately 50 new transmitters will be added to the system in the next

two years, increasing national coverage. The NWR All Hazards system is

an integral part of the DHS emergency warning network, providing

automatic transmission of emergency warning messages for all types of

hazardous situations. There are no other suitable technologies that could

replace NWR, and continue to provide all its capabilities. The NWR

system is comprised of two parts; the broadcast segment, and the

dissemination feed segment.

Broadcast Segment - A total of 992 broadcast transmitters operated on

seven 25 kHz-wide dedicated channels occupying a range from 162.4 to

162.55 MHz make up the broadcast segment. Transmitter power ranges

from 5 to 1000 watts. Since a change in transmit signal characteristics

would obsolete the receivers used by the public, NWR broadcast

transmitters are exempt from NTIA narrowband requirements. NWR

broadcast spectrum requirements are not expected to change in the next 5

to 10 years.

Dissemination Feed Segment - NWR transmitters typically are not

collocated with the source for broadcast content. Broadcast content is

provided to transmitter locations by landline and ultra-high frequency

(UHF) radio links. The signals currently occupy eighteen (18) 25 kHz

channels in the 406.1 to 420 MHz. The NWR links will be narrow banded

to 12.5 kHz bandwidths by January 1, 2008.

The Weather Radio Improvement Program (WRIP) will replace existing

telephone links connecting WRO’s and transmitters with an integrated

high-availability communication network architecture. WRIP will merge

both NWR and the NWWS dissemination systems into one unified data

collection and data dissemination system utilizing NOAANet for the

collection of NWR and NWWS messages from individual WFO’s and a

hybrid terrestrial/satellite communications network for the dissemination

of NWR broadcasts and NWWS text products. NOAA anticipates that

80% of all NWR transmitters will be linked directly using the NOAANet

infrastructure. The remaining 20% of NWR transmitters not directly

linked with NOAANet will be linked using a combination of upgraded

UHF links, C-Band/Ku-Band satellite links, or other dedicated

communication links and circuits. The number of UHF links is likely to

increase from the 100 now used to a maximum of 200 when the satellite

dissemination system is implemented. Messages that are to be delivered

to the NWWS will be sent to a C-Band Maser Ground Station (MGS) for

broadcast to the NWWS users. WRIP will also provide an interface for

DHS, FEMA, and other government agencies to disseminate localized and

national emergency voice alerts through NWR transmitter stations.

Implementation of the integrated WRIP communication infrastructure is

expected to occur beginning FY 2009 through FY 2012.

Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) performs

a function similar to NWR, but the weather information is transmitted in

digital form and is customized to meet the needs of emergency managers.

The EMWIN signal is received from the GOES and retransmitted with a

100 watt VHF transmitter. The data can be received, demodulated, and

displayed on a computer by emergency managers. The EMWIN receiving

system may be fixed, transportable, or mobile. NOAA uses three VHF

frequencies for the EMWIN 24 hour per day, 7 day per week rebroadcast.

EMWIN complies with the NTIA narrowband mandate. The current

spectrum requirements for EMWIN are anticipated to extend until at least

2010. Changes in the next series of GOES satellites, the GOES-N thru P

constellation, have necessitated development of EMWIN-N. Sometime

before 2011 the current GOES satellites will be removed from operation

and will be replaced by the new series. To meet ITU regulations power

and modulation changes, EMWIN users will need to migrate to newer

technologies due to L band carrier frequency change from 1690.725 MHz

to 1692.700 MHz, reduction in the power level from 51 dBmi to 43 dBmi,

and modulation scheme change from Frequency Shift (FSK) to Binary

Phase Shift Key (BPSK),

Broadcast Media - The broadcast media plays an important role in NOAA

mission though NOAA does not hold licenses to radio or television

broadcast spectrum, nor directly uses the broadcast spectrum. NWR is the

system used by NOAA to immediately warn the public of hazardous

conditions. Once a warning is issued via NWR, the broadcast media plays

an important role in providing the public with additional details and

guidance from emergency managers. Periodically the media will bring

remote links directly into NOAA facilities to conduct interviews and

provide timely information to the sector of the public who have turned to

television and radio for more information. The video feeds from the

Tropical Prediction Center in Miami, Florida, often seen on national

television before landfall of a hurricane, are an excellent example of the

cooperative effort between NOAA and broadcast media. The

dissemination of highly detailed weather information via the commercial

broadcast services serves society’s needs for water and weather

information. A cooperative effort with the broadcast media enhances

environmental literacy and improves understanding, value and use of

weather and water information and services.

Communication Systems - Communications systems for supporting DOC daily

operations are absolutely critical to operations efficiency and safety of its

employees and assets. Outside NOAA, communications systems make up the

largest use of spectrum by the remaining DOC line offices and bureaus.

Communications systems, used for personal voice and data communications,

support DOC daily operations and are absolutely critical to operations efficiency

and safety of its employees and assets.

Land Mobile Radio - Land mobile radio (LMR) operated in the

Government LMR bands for communications between field staff

(technicians and scientists) and their offices, and for coordination of

security and law enforcement activities is critical to DOC operations.

LMR radio systems allow DOC to conduct its operations in a more

efficient manner, ensuring safety of field staff and providing

communication between security personnel. Interoperability with other

Federal enforcement agencies and state and local governments is required

for some operations. The LMR equipment used by DOC is typically

commercially available hardware meeting the NTIA standards for federal

spectrum use. Some operations require frequency assignments on a

national basis. DOC LMR requirements are not expected to grow

significantly in the next 5 to 10 years. New requirements as well as some

existing requirements may be satisfied through the future use of cellular

telephone, where cellular coverage is adequate. DOC has provided

frequencies for trunked radio systems in several parts of the country in

return for service on the trunked radio network.

In addition to traditional LMR operations, NOAA has requirements for a

small number of paging systems to provide pager coverage in areas where

commercial service is inadequate or does not exist. NOAA use of the 162-

174 MHz band for paging systems is small and not expected to increase.

New technologies, including commercial services, will be evaluated as

they become available.

Maritime Communications - NOAA uses maritime HF and VHF radio

communications for weather observations, quality control of maritime

weather products, and NOAA ship operations. NOAA operates both

shore-based and ship borne HF and VHF radios in support of the NOAA

maritime operations, the Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program and

for monitoring transmission of maritime weather products.

The VOS program enables collection of weather data, using HF and VHF

radio, from ocean areas where installation of permanent sensor systems is

not possible. The VOS communications contribute to meeting the NOAA

Weather and Water and Commerce and Transportation mission goals. A

single HF and a single VHF frequency are used for operations. The

current technology characteristics are necessary for compatibility with the

reporting ships. NOAA will adopt any suitable technology to improve

performance or spectrum efficiency as required by the VOS program, but

no improvements are foreseen in the near future. Expansion of the

number of NOAA-operated radio systems for VOS is not anticipated.

NOAA operates a maritime fleet that is reliant on HF and VHF maritime

communications for operations and safety. These systems are essential for

maintaining communications with people at sea, supporting the NOAA

Ecosystems and Commerce and Transportation mission goals. Other

technologies, such as cell phones and satellite communications, have

replaced some maritime communications requirements. NOAA will

continue to require access to HF and VHF maritime spectrum into the

future, though requirements are not anticipated to increase in the next 10

years.

NOAA monitors Marine Fax for quality control of transmitted NOAA

products. Marine Fax is used to disseminate a wide variety of

information, including weather forecasts and severe weather warnings to

mariners. It is not a system under the control or operation of NOAA,

however, this service is critical to supporting the Commerce and

Transportation mission goals. Marine Fax is operated to monitor the

transmission of maritime weather products. Marine Fax uses 4 HF

frequencies in the 4 to 17.25 MHz range.

Commercial Satellite Phone - NOAA uses mobile satellite phone

technology for a variety of operations. The Alaska Region (AR) of the

NWS operates a single satellite telephone terminal to increase

participation in the collection of marine observations under the VOS

program. Fishing vessels and some other craft choose to not broadcast

their coordinates over VHF or UHF radio for competitive reasons. Use of

satellite phone allows private contact with the Valdez Weather Service

Office (WSO), avoiding cost of calls entering the public telephone

switched network (PTSN). NOAA also uses 12 satellite phones for

enforcement operations in remote areas and for ship-to-ship and ship-to-

shore communications.

Use of satellite telephone technology allows NOAA to increase

participation in the collection of marine weather data and ensures safety

during NOAA law enforcement operations and while NOAA ships are at

sea. This directly contributes to all the NOAA activities, with emphasis on

monitoring and observing the sea, managing ocean resources to optimize

safety. This activity supports both the NOAA Weather and Water Goal

and the Commerce and Transportation Goal. Satellite phone

communications are provided by commercial services such as Iridium and

Globalstar.

Cell Phone - The cellular telephone has become so embedded in business

practices Federal agencies even benefit from the commercial service.

Many NOAA operational personnel and managers are issued cellular

telephones (cell phone) as well as cell phones are used for ship-to-ship and

ship-to-shore communications while NOAA ships are close to shore. Use

of cell phone technology contributes to the NOAA Strategic Plan Mission

Support goal. The cell phone provides an acceptable, more cost-effective

communications solution in comparison to Government operated land

mobile radio systems and commercial satellite phone technology. While

third generation mobile telephone systems promise multimedia data

services including video and wide band data, most requirements within the

NOAA are satisfied with simple voice communications with occasional

remote access to office email.

Wireless Ethernet - NOAA plans to integrate wireless local area networks

into campus (i.e. large NOAA facilities) networks and single facilities

where applicable and secure. NOAA uses wireless Ethernet for

communication between a deployed hydroacoustic survey buoy and its

associated ship. The current system used for this application operates in

the 902-928 MHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. Spectrum

requirements for this application are not expected to change.

Shipboard Wireless Data Collection - NOAA is investigating the use of

wireless technology for data collection and entry on board research vessels

while at sea. This system would provide wireless communication between

a file server in a protected area and ruggedized laptop or tablet PCs on

deck for data collection. The system is currently under development and a

frequency range has not been selected. NOAA plans to use commercial

technology for this application. Wireless Ethernet LAN hardware is a

candidate for this application.

Amateur Radio - Amateur radio operators provide a critical service to

NOAA by reporting severe weather observations, supporting the NOAA

Weather and Water mission goal. The SkyWarn program establishes

operating procedures and formal training programs for allowing volunteer

amateur radio operators to serve as weather observers for Weather

Forecast Offices (WFO) during severe weather. Typically the amateur

radio community will provide a radio operator for the WFO during periods

of severe weather. This operator, using amateur radio equipment in the

WFO, will communicate with field spotters to gather observations and

information on the formation of severe weather. Similar operations are

also conducted between the Tropical Prediction Center and Caribbean

Islands during hurricane landfall in the islands.

The Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) is a public-private

partnership involving amateur radio that results in NOAA receiving

surface weather data from approximately 2700 citizen (amateur and non-

amateur) weather stations around the world, and this number is steadily

increasing. These data are quality controlled and sent to other federal

agencies, including NOAA, and educational institutions. The citizen

weather data are sent by amateur packet radio at 144.390 MHz and the

Internet to an amateur radio server, where they are stored, made available

to NOAA, and sent to NWS Forecast Offices around the country as part of

the AWIPS data stream.

NOAA has no direct requirement for amateur radio spectrum. Federal

spectrum regulators should recognize the valuable service amateur radio

volunteers provide in many emergency situations, including severe

weather spotter support to NOAA.

SARSAT - As an integral part of a worldwide search and rescue system,

NOAA operates the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking

(SARSAT). The SARSAT system uses NOAA the polar-orbiting and

geostationary meteorological satellites to detect and locate aviators,

mariners, and land-based users in distress. The satellites relay distress

signals from emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) to a

network of ground stations and ultimately to the U.S. Mission Control

Center (USMCC) in Suitland, Maryland. The USMCC processes the

distress signal and alerts the appropriate search and rescue authorities to

who is in distress and, more importantly, where they are located. NOAA-

SARSAT is a part of the international COSPAS-SARSAT Program, which

36 nations and two independent search and rescue organizations are

members. The NOAA SARSAT system is operated with frequencies

identified in Table D-4.

In addition to the NOAA contributions to the COSPAS-SARSAT

program, NOAA researchers and observers going to sea and into remote

areas are issued personal locating beacons (PLBs) for use in

emergency/distress situations.

FedSMR Program- The Federal Specialized Mobile Radio Program

(FedSMR) is a trunked radio service that is used on a shared basis by some

Federal agencies. It is a two-way dispatch service, with airtime billed at a

flat rate per month. The cost of airtime is dependent on individual radio

user needs. Many government agencies have used the service for the past

15 years. The FedSMR system provides 24/7 connectivity between radio

sites. This connectivity supports radio roaming and wide area

communication.

FedSMR is operated by the Federal Radio Service Corp (FRSC)/ Pegasus

Radio Corp under contract from DOC/NTIA. The purpose of the FedSMR

program is to provide spectrum-efficient trunked radio communications to

a number of government users that can benefit from multiple talk groups

and other features trunked radio technology provides, without the agencies

independently bearing the costs associated to build, manage and maintain

a complete system. FedSMR supports over 2100 individual radio

subscribers. Some examples of current subscribing agencies in the

Washington, DC area are:

•Smithsonian Institution 820 subscribers

•GSA 5 subscribers

•National Zoo 257 subscribers

•US Holocaust Memorial 214 subscribers

•National Archives 300 subscribers

•Dept of State 18 subscribers

•Dept of VA 97 subscribers

•Export/Import Bank 45 subscribers

•Kennedy Center 82 subscribers

•VA Med Center 60 subscribers

The system topology is based on low tower height, lower power transmitters

and frequency reuse. The use of digital signaling enables each radio in the

system to dynamically select a site for use for each communication. The

operating frequencies for FedSMR are within the government band 406.1-420

MHz. The frequencies are assigned for operation in five urban areas on the

east coast.

The systems will be transitioned to narrowband (12.5 kHz) channels by year-

end 2007. These changes to narrowbanding are to facilitate more efficient use

of available spectrum. The effort is considerable and requires engineering and

financial commitments in order to develop a smooth, safe transition plan that

is within budget cycles. FRSC began this process in 2001 in order to meet the

requirements of the NTIA.

In conjunction with the transition to narrowband, FRSC also is addressing

increased capacity requirements as well as additional interoperability needs,

connectivity to a digital backbone, improved connectivity between multiple

sites, and enhanced security (including voice-encryption) and reliability. The

FedSMR contractor is utilizing its 1CommWireless network platform to

support UHF, VHF, 700, 800, 900 MHz trunked radio communications and

conventional communications in other frequency bands.

Each FedSMR radio is equipped with an individual ID and an Electronic

Serial Number. These identifiers allow the radio access to the network. Only

the network operator at Federal Radio Service Corp can grant access to the

system. If a radio is lost it can be temporarily disabled. A radio, when

transmitting, sends its own ID to all radios receiving the call. This provides

positive identification to all units. This is also a management tool which

enables tracking of radio abusers and in times of duress can save valuable

time in determining the identity of the caller.

Voice encryption options are available on some radios only, at this time.

Encryption choices range from simple analog inversion, to rolling code

encryption, to AES voice encryption. The radio is not capable of being

remotely monitored so therefore cannot operate as surveillance or “bug”

device.

The federal government as well as state, local and regional public safety

entities, are aware of the critical need for interoperable communications

between legacy systems, new systems and public safety systems (state and

local). Interoperability can be accomplished through various means and at

various levels. Interoperability is a method to rapidly exchange information

between different responding agencies and departments (generally on different

frequencies). The National Telecommunications System (NTS), used in the

FedSMR network, has many interfaces and external tools available to provide

a variety of methods to satisfy specific interoperability requirements.

Federal Radio Service Corp along with a key radio manufacturer is currently

developing a digital platform to increase efficiency by reducing channel

bandwidth to 6.25 kHz. The adoption of a digital radio will provide a 100%

digital trunked radio system. The digital radio use will improve the interface

and transfer of data operations such as GPS and status message. FedSMR

system loading is projected to continue its current annual rate of growth by

approximately 20% per year for at least the next five years. This translates to

a spectrum increased requirements of 3 channels per year. Spectrum

requirements could be reduced as new efficient digital technologies are

implemented. The nature of the technology is highly dependant upon the

spectrum allocations. For example CDMA technology could be deployed

today in the 406 to 420 MHz band provided sufficient contiguous bandwidth

was available to make a commercial investment viable. The FedSMR

contractor continues to support the reduction of transmitter power and fixed

end antenna heights in an effort to limit propagation range to the needed

operational area. As discussed above, the contractor continually evaluates and

introduces technical changes to improve system functionality, enhance

security and increase spectrum efficiency.

As an alternative to FedSMR, the individual federal agencies could finance,

build and operate their own conventional or trunked radio systems. Many

agencies do have such systems, particularly in areas where FedSMR does not

provide service, or for sensitive requirements for which a shared system

would not provide sufficient security. Another alternative would be for

individual agencies to procure and use commercial wireless services. This

approach is likely to be more costly and would not provide the security

available through a closed government system.

The FedSMR system in Washington DC currently supports COOP mission

requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs, US Holocaust Memorial

Museum, and US Patent and Trademark Office. The locations of the

1CommWireless sites support the radio communications requirements for the

agencies’ contingency locations.

The USPTO has requirements for mobile radio operations. USPTO, through

DOC frequency assignments, uses the DOC contracted FedSMR trunked radio

system (See Annex E). The use 53 potable radios, in three talk groups on the

FedSMR system, supports the daily internal operations of the USPTO in the

Washington, DC area. While USPTO is continuously seeking ways to

expedite the patent and trademark review process, USPTO has not identified

new spectrum-reliant technologies that will be implemented in the future.

BIS Land Mobile Radio Network- The spectrum requirements of BIS are

limited to land mobile radio systems for coordinating real-time tactical

activities and ensuring officer safety for the Office of Export Enforcement.

The Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) operates approximately 100 mobile

radios in support of law enforcement activities at its 14 field offices and

headquarters. The mission of BIS/OEE is to protect U.S. national security and

foreign policy interests by enforcing the export control and antiboycott

provisions of the Export Administration Regulations. BIS/OEE accomplishes

this by identifying and apprehending violators and by pursuing criminal and

administrative sanctions against them. Without proper radio communications,

operations would be hampered and officer safety would be compromised. The

operations of BIS, supported by radio communications are critical to COOP

and Homeland Security operations.

HF Radio- In support of continuity of operations (COOP) of NTIA and

DOC, and NTIA participation in the National Communications System (NCS)

SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program, NTIA

operates an HF radio station at its alternate site.

HF frequency assignments are required by NTIA to participate in the NCS

SHARES HF Radio Program and to support an emergency back-up HF

communications network for the DOC and NTIA (the DOC HF Radio

Emergency Communications Network). The HF frequencies are critical to

NTIA performing their assigned Priority Mission Essential Functions

(PMEFs) when other means of Federal interagency communications are

unavailable. The DOC PMEF performed by NTIA that would be supported in

part via HF radio operations is to: “Manage the Federal Government’s use of

the radio frequency spectrum. This PMEF supports the National Essential

Function (NEF): “Provide rapid and effective response and recovery from the

domestic consequences of an attack or other incident.”

NCS, in its role of planning and preparing for national security and emergency

preparedness (NS/EP), has undertaken a number of initiatives to provide

communications to support all hazards situations. One of these initiatives,

developed through the combined efforts of the 23 NCS member organizations

(of which NTIA is one), is the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High

Frequency (HF) Radio Program. The purpose of SHARES is to provide a

single, interagency emergency message handling system by bringing together

existing HF radio resources of Federal, State and industry organizations when

normal communications are destroyed or unavailable for the transmission of

NS/EP information. SHARES further implements Executive Order No.

12472, "Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness

Telecommunications Functions," dated April 3, 1984. The SHARES HF

Radio Program brings together the assets of over 1,100 HF radio stations (of

which one is the NTIA radio station) worldwide to voluntarily pass

emergency messages when normal communications are destroyed or

unavailable. The SHARES HF Radio Program uses common radio operating

and message formatting procedures and more than 250 designated

frequencies.

In addition to the current Department of Commerce (DOC) frequency

assignments in the GMF, two additional frequencies are required near 6 and 9

MHz to avoid disruption caused by sunspots at various times.

NCS Directive 3-10, Required Minimum Continuity Communications

Capabilities, to be published before the end of 2005 requires NTIA to possess

its present HF radio capability as well as additional capabilities as a backup

communications capability. Those additional capabilities include Automatic

Link Establishment (ALE) and HF email.

Research Test and Development-

Land Mobile Radio, Project 25

The new generation of digital (narrowband) LMR systems, being standardized

under Project 25/TIA TR-8, are critical elements within an overall U.S. public

safety telecommunications interoperability strategy. Considerable laboratory

effort is needed in two areas to bring Project 25 (P25) systems to a state where

they can be used fully by the public safety community. First, testing is

required to help finalize the remaining system interface standards for the P25

systems. The associated process and procedure (testing) standards are needed

to verify the performance of individual radios and system interoperability

among radios produced by different manufacturers. Second, testing is

required for P25 products now on the market to assess how well they perform

and whether they can interoperate. Specifically, testing is needed to evaluate

the fully standardized "common air interface" using the P25 test standard that

has also been approved and accepted widely. Therefore, all P25

interoperability testing must include the provision for operating FM

"wideband" radios along with digital "narrowband" equipment. Another

critical element of P25 testing is that it must be approached from the

perspective of the entire public safety community, i.e., it considers Federal,

state, local, and tribal public safety applications. Therefore, testing must

encompass all frequency bands assigned to the respective echelons of

government - VHF, UHF, 700/800 MHz - and must consider both

conventional and trunked radio operation. While the current laboratory

testing emphasis is on Project 25-related radio equipment, the NTIA/ITS

program includes the assessment of all existing and emerging wireless, IT,

and hybrid (wireless/IT) products and services that have the potential for

playing a major role in interim interoperability solutions (that could be applied

now in selected geographic areas) and the ultimate long-term, standardized,

nationwide interoperability approach. In this vein, NTIA/ITS will require

authorization to use 4.9 GHz systems (and systems in other bands that may

show promise).

Shared Spectrum Testing

Pursuant to the Presidential Spectrum Policy Initiative, a number of federal

departments and agencies have assignments and responsibilities. The essential

goal of this initiative is to promote the development and implementation of

U.S. spectrum management policy for the 21st century. Some of the

assignments and responsibilities reside in DOC and in the NTIA. A number of

projects within NTIA have been planned as a response to the Initiative. One of

the projects (No. 11) is entitled "Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed" and

it requires the allocation of 20 MHz of spectrum.

This project will be jointly performed by NTIA's Office of Spectrum

Management (OSM) and The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences in

cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In the first

phase of the project, NTIA and FCC will each identify 10 MHz of spectrum.

These two segments of spectrum will support the spectrum sharing innovation

test-bed by enabling both public and private sector tests and experiments that

explore both the effectiveness of sharing as well as new, innovative

approaches of allocating channels and managing the spectrum. The project

description indicates that the central coordination point for this effort will be

under the auspices of a special ad hoc committee of the NTIA

Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), and possibly within

the Technical Subcommittee (TSC) of the IRAC. The proposed time frame for

the project spans Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007.

ITS is proposing the use of the Table Mountain Field Site for some or all of

the testing of new and innovative radio and wireless technologies and

spectrum-sharing strategies. Therefore, ITS will require the allocation of 10

MHz of spectrum. While it is unknown what technologies might be tested, a

reasonable choice for this test-bed spectrum would be between 2 and 6 GHz

where most new and future radio and wireless devices are expected to

function. However, in order to explore even more diverse systems that may

take advantage of differing signal propagation characteristics, it would be

more desirable to have parts of the 10 MHz located in different frequency

ranges. For example, some of the 10 MHz bandwidth could be located in the

in the 2 to 6 GHz range and the remainder at around 800 MHz or lower. This

notion could be extended even further by allocating a third portion of the 10

MHz bandwidth at 12 to 14 GHz. While it is unknown what radiated powers

will be used, it is reasonable to assume that most of the work could be done at

relatively low power thus the geographic region associated with this allocation

might extend no further than 50 miles from Table Mountain Field Site.

Feasibility of Spectrum Sharing

DOC increases spectrum efficiency through sharing with other Government

Agencies and with commercial services. DOC has participated in many studies

on the sharing of spectrum between Government operations and commercial

operations. Sharing is not always possible when DOC operations are not

consistent with the requirements of other users, or the sensitivity of DOC systems

would be impaired by shared use of radio spectrum. Successful sharing scenarios

are occasionally identified through cooperative studies between the Government

and the commercial sector. Radiosonde and meteorological satellite operations in

402-405 MHz

now share spectrum with short-range telemetry links to implanted

medical devices. The operational and technical characteristics of the medical

implants combined with interference mitigation techniques implemented in the

implants made shared use of the spectrum possible. Many of the atmospheric

observing systems operated by NOAA use high sensitivity receivers and are

particularly sensitive to interference. In the case of passive sensors and radar

systems, meeting mission requirements requires access to specific frequency

ranges. Reallocation to enable spectrum sharing is not possible. However,

NOAA has participated in study efforts where sharing has been found to be

feasible.

Metsat operations allocated in 402-403 MHz only.

Feasibility of Using Commercial Alternatives

DOC uses commercial telecommunication services in cases where the services

offered fully support mission requirements and provide a cost effective

telecommunications solution. Use of commercial services, when cost effective, is

consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations and with the NTIA spectrum

regulatory rules. DOC investigates the use of commercial alternatives during the

planning stages of any new program or system upgrade. Not all Government

telecommunications can be conducted using commercial services. Due to the

nature of DOC operations, particularly within NOAA, commercial alternatives

often do not meet mission requirements. However, there are cases where

commercial alternatives do provide an attractive, cost-effective. For example,

commercial mobile phone service is used in areas where it can meet requirements,

replacing the need for Government land mobile radio networks. DOC will

continue to evaluate existing and new spectrum-reliant requirements to determine

whether commercial services exist to address the requirement.

Feasibility of Using Non-spectrum Sources

In most applications, DOC will select the use of non-spectrum-reliant technology

if it will meet mission requirements. Use of landline communications often

results in higher reliability and lower cost. However, many DOC applications,

particularly within NOAA require use of radio spectrum to operate. Wired

connections to mobile platforms, satellites and radiosondes is not practical.

Radars cannot operate over wired connections.

New Technologies and Improved Spectrum Efficiency

DOC strives to implement spectrum efficiency where it is cost effective and

consistent with the DOC mission requirements. Some measures implemented by

DOC include use of commercial services, sharing spectrum with commercial

services and Government agencies, and use of more efficient modulation

techniques and technologies.

COOP/COG implications

DOC requires use of radio frequency spectrum for COOP/COG communications

and for operations which support COOP/COG operations. Departmental

COOP/COG spectrum requirements are identified in Annex A, Table Summary of

DOC Radio Applications.

III. Future Spectrum Requirements- Technologies and Expanded

Services requiring spectrum (2007-2015)

Most current spectrum requirements identified in this plan will extend well into

the future. With a few exceptions, the spectrum requirements are not expected to

decrease for currently operational systems. One of the objectives of this plan is

identification of new spectrum requirements for new and expanded systems.

Table A1 indicates systems and radio services where spectrum requirements are

expected to increase or potential new requirements have been identified. These

requirements include additional spectrum for meteorological satellite data

transmission; satellite passive sensing; meteorological radars; telemetry links for

control and programming of autonomous vehicles; and wildlife, marine life and

fish tracking.

New Technologies and Improved Spectrum Efficiency- Use of more advanced

technologies and modulation techniques can, in some cases, greatly increase

spectrum efficiency. The potential use of advanced technologies and modulation

techniques needs to be balanced with disadvantages introduced by those

technologies and techniques. Evaluation of more efficient spectrum use must

include consideration of operational impacts and cost effectiveness. DOC strives

to implement spectrum efficiency where it is cost effective and consistent with the

DOC mission requirements. Below are some examples of implementing systems

with greater spectrum efficiency.

• NOAA is in the planning stage of the next generation of GOES

meteorological satellites. Increased spectrum efficiency is needed to

accommodate the higher resolution sensors within the available allocated

bandwidth. Spectrum is not available to provide the necessary bandwidth if

current technology is used. An extensive engineering effort is underway to

study the advantages and disadvantages of more spectrum-efficient

modulation schemes, allowing transmission of more data per given

bandwidth. The bandwidth advantages provided by the advanced modulation

techniques need to be balanced against the greater transmitter power typically

needed to support reliable communications.

• DOC has responded to the NTIA mandate to narrowband radio systems

operated in 162-174 MHz by January 1, 2005 and in the band 406.1-420 by

January 1, 2008. The NTIA mandated narrowband initiative was to provide

additional LMR channels for government operations.

• NOAA has also begun deployment of the Radiosonde Replacement System

(RRS) for the U.S. synoptic radiosonde network. Legacy synoptic radiosonde

operations required on the order of 15 to 20 MHz of bandwidth in the range

1670-1690 MHz. Radiosondes are expendable items, where approximately

80,000 are flown in the U.S. per year for synoptic operations. Legacy

radiosondes used a low cost AM transmitter based on a free running oscillator

design to maintain a minimum expendable cost. The emission bandwidth was

excessive and the transmitter frequency would drift as much as 4 MHz while

in flight. The new RRS radiosonde uses a more efficient digital transmitter

where drift is minimized. Through deployment of RRS, the U.S. synoptic

radiosonde spectrum requirements were cut by 50% or more, albeit at a per-

radiosonde cost increase.

In summary, DOC has and will continue to evaluate new technologies, and

spectrum sharing techniques to reduce spectrum requirements and make spectrum

available to other users.

COOP/COG implications

DOC will continue to require use of radio frequency spectrum for COOP/COG

communications and for operations which support COOP/COG operations.

Departmental COOP/COG spectrum requirements and future requirements

changes are identified in Annex

A, Table Summary of DOC Radio Applications.

International Issues

The significant international issue at the time of the 2007 update is the need for

global allocations for oceanographic radars operating in the 3 to 30 MHz range

and near 42 MHz. WRC-07 created the WRC-11 Agenda Item 1.15 to address

this issue. Based on past agenda items concentrating on the 3 to 30 MHz range,

reaching a WRC-11 outcome where spectrum can be allocated for these radars

will be difficult.

Impact of Unavailable Spectrum

Due to the broad range of systems operated in support of DOC operations, the

impact of spectrum unavailability can vary. For some systems, if spectrum is

available elsewhere that meets the propagation requirements operations can be

moved to other bands without a significant impact, albeit at a cost for new

hardware and installation. For some systems, such as radars and passive sensors,

the physical properties of the measurements combined with the radio spectrum

wavelength and propagation characteristics dictate the frequency range the system

operate within. Operation of such a system at a different frequency can render it

useless. This is the reason many scientists consider the passive sensor frequencies

to be a scarce resource, which when polluted with interference, are irreplaceable.

IV. Current and Future Use of Non-Federal Spectrum Offered by

Commercial Service Providers

Several spectrum-reliant DOC programs use or are considering use of commercial

services that rely on non-Federal spectrum. In many cases mission requirements

preclude the use of commercial services.

Broadcast Media - The broadcast media plays an important role in NOAA

mission though NOAA does not hold licenses to radio or television broadcast

spectrum, nor directly uses the broadcast spectrum. Please refer to the Broadcast

Media section on Page 19.

Commercial Satellite Services - NOAA uses commercial satellite services for

support of its operations. Transport of water and weather data and products

between NOAA facilities and to external customers is critical to the NOAA

mission. Use of commercial satellite services is the only economically viable

solution for global transport of data. Please refer to the Commercial Satellite

Services section on Page15.

Commercial Satellite Phone - NOAA uses mobile satellite phone technology for

a variety of operations. For the Voluntary Observing Ship program, use of

satellite phone allows private contact with the Valdez Weather Service Office

(WSO), avoiding cost of calls entering the public telephone switched network

(PTSN). NOAA also uses 12 satellite phones for enforcement operations in

remote areas and for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications. A detailed

discussion is provided under the Communications Systems section on Page 21.

Cell Phone - The cellular telephone has become so embedded in business

practices Federal agencies even benefit from the commercial service. Many DOC

operational personnel and managers are issued cellular telephones (cell phone) as

well as cell phones are used for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications

while NOAA ships are close to shore. A detailed discussion is provided under the

Communications section on Page 22.

V. Current and Future Use of Non-Licensed Devices

DOC makes extensive use of unlicensed radio systems. Facilities and campuses

use 802.11a, 802.11b and/or 802.11g WIFI systems for wireless internet access.

New versions of the 802.11 technology will be implemented in the future.

Current requirements are defined in Section II, on Page 22. Use of unlicensed

network technology as well as other most likely increase in the future.

VI. New Technologies

At the time of the 2007 update to the DOC Strategic Spectrum Plan, no new

technologies were identified that were being evaluated that may potentially use

spectrum in the future.

VII. Strategic Spectrum Planning

DOC Spectrum Management Organization

Access to spectrum is crucial to accomplishing DOC's mission. The Office of

Radio Frequency Management (ORFM), organizationally located in NOAA’s

National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS), is

responsible (per Department Administrative Order 201-39) for managing

spectrum requirements for all DOC offices and bureaus. Each office and bureau

having radio frequency spectrum requirements identifies a frequency management

liaison to assist ORFM in managing their organization’s spectrum needs. With

demands for radio spectrum growing in the Government and private sector,

ORFM relies heavily on these liaisons and their technical staff for frequency

management support, for development of spectrum-sharing studies, and for

ensuring representation of their agency's interests in domestic and international

spectrum meetings.

DOC Office of Secretary and Office of Security The Office of Security provides

policies, programs, and oversight as it collaborates with facility managers to

reduce the terrorism risks to DOC personnel and facilities; program managers to

reduce the espionage risks to DOC personnel, information and facilities; and

Department and bureau leadership to increase emergency preparedness for DOC

operations. The Office of Security employs both commercial service providers

and government operated systems in meeting Continuity of Operations Plan

(COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) requirements.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NOAA, the largest

user of spectrum in DOC, supports the DOC Strategic Goal 3. The NOAA

mission is “To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and

conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s

economic, social and environmental needs.” NOAA cannot accomplish its

mission without access to sufficient radio spectrum in the appropriate frequency

ranges.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) NTIA

supports the DOC Strategic Goal 2. NTIA’s mission is to “promote the efficient

and effective use of telecommunications and information resources in a manner

that creates job opportunities, enhances U.S. competitiveness, and raises the

standard of living.” NTIA is the spectrum regulator for the Federal Government,

working closely with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which is

responsible for regulating non-federal spectrum use.

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) The mission of the Bureau of Industry

and Security (BIS) is to advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and

economic interests. BIS supports Goals 1 and 2 of the DOC Strategic Plan. BIS

relies on spectrum for law enforcement activities, safety of their employees and

for operations critical to Homeland Defense.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) The mission of NIST is

to develop and promote measurement, standards and technology to enhance

productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. NIST supports Goal

2 of the DOC Strategic Plan.

Census Bureau (within the Economics and Statistics Administration) The

Census Bureau is the premier source of information on the American people and

the economy, supporting DOC meeting Goal 1 of the DOC Strategic Plan. The

spectrum requirements of the Census Bureau are small at this time, but could

potentially increase as new wireless technologies are incorporated into operational

practices.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) The U.S. Patent and Trademark

Office ensures that the intellectual property system contributes to a strong global

economy, encourages investment in innovation, and fosters entrepreneurial spirit.

* - Within DOC, NTIA has the role of both a spectrum user, and regulator of Government

spectrum use. For this reason, NTIA is shown in two places on this organizational chart. NTIA

must work through DOC ORFM for to fill their spectrum requirements. Ultimately the NTIA

requirements are submitted back to NTIA for processing.

NOAA

NESDIS

NWS

DOC ORFM

NOS

BIS

NMFS

NMAO

DOC Office

of Secretary

DOC

Office of

Security

Census

Bureau

USPTO

NTIA

NTIA*

Dept. of

State

FCC

DOC Spectrum Management Chart-

Functional View

Secretary

Commerce

NOAA

NTIA

USPTO

NIST

Census

Bureau

National

Environmental

Satellite and

Data Information

Service

DOC Office of

Radio

Frequency

Management

NESDIS

Spectrum

Manager

Other NOAA Line

Offices and Line

Office Spectrum

Managers

BIS

NTIA

Spectrum

Manager

USPTO

Spectrum

Manager

NIST

Spectrum

Manager

Office of

Secretary

and

Security

Office of

Secretary and

Security

Spectrum

Manager

Census

Bureau

Spectrum

Manager

BIS

Spectrum

Manager

DOC Spectrum Management Organizational Chart - Administrative View

Office of

Systems

Development

DOC Strategic Spectrum Plan Approval Process

The DOC spectrum management process is unique among the Federal agencies due to the

fact the DOC is tasked with management of all Government spectrum use, and must also

represent its own interests, which may conflict with other Federal and non-Federal users.

Within DOC, NTIA serves as both a spectrum user and as the regulator of all

Government spectrum use. Since NOAA is the largest user of spectrum within DOC,

NOAA is tasked with representing the DOC spectrum interests, allowing NTIA to

maintain an unbiased position with respect to management of spectrum for all federal

agencies. DOC ORFM develops the DOC Spectrum plan based on input from all DOC

offices and bureaus, and submits the plan to NOAA management for approval. The

NOAA Under Secretary approves the plan as the DOC input and it is submitted to DOC

for use in development of the Federal Spectrum Plan.

Strategic Spectrum Planning- DOC Budget, Planning, Programming, and

Operational Execution

Incorporating Spectrum Planning in the DOC budget, planning, programming and

operational execution process has been difficult and largely unsuccessful. Historically

there has been little recognition for the need to plan the use of spectrum resources as part

of initial planning of a new program. Until recent years when spectrum has become a

scarce resource, new programs have succeeded without any spectrum planning effort,

establishing a culture within many parts of DOC that spectrum planning and spectrum

management is unimportant to the success of the DOC mission. Due to the established

culture, program offices are largely unaware of the DOC spectrum management process,

NTIA requirements, and the existence of ORFM and the connection made only when

ORFM learns of the program’s existence or the program office encounters spectrum

related problems and seeks help. Education of the budget, program and procurement

offices is a slow process.

Strategic Spectrum Planning- System Certification and Frequency Assignment

Requests

The need to change the DOC culture and the view of the DOC budget, program and

procurement offices hold regarding the required spectrum management process is

discussed in the previous section. As stated above, changing the DOC culture is a slow

process. Many program offices are ensuring the have submitted spectrum certification

and frequency assignment requests in a timely manner, however there are still instances

where programs progress very far into the procurement and deployment process before

program managers realize the spectrum certification and assignment process is a

necessary step.

Strategic Spectrum Planning- Process Changes

DOC budget, program and procurement offices are widely spread both across DOC

offices and bureaus, and geographically. ORFM is working to incorporate the necessary

spectrum planning steps in the DOC processes, however it may be an extended time

before significant changes are made to the extent that spectrum planning is included in

the planning process of every program requiring access to radio spectrum.

Contact information

James Mentzer

DOC/NOAA Office of Radio Frequency Management

1315 East West Highway

SSMC3, STE 10601, (E/OSD6)

Silver Spring, MD 20910

[email protected]

Phone: (301) 713-1853

Fax: (301) 713-1861

ANNEX A-

Table Summary of DOC Radio Applications

TABLE A1- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

19.05-20.05 kHz Frequency and

Time Standard

Time and Frequency

Transmission

NIST 1 None COG

60 kHz Time Standard Standard Frequency and

Time

NIST 2 None

134.2 kHz Animal Tracking Salmon Fish Tags NOAA None

1000 kHz Time Standard Time Transmission NIST 1 None

Maritime

Communications

Maritime Operations and

Maritime Weather Warnings

NOAA

None COG

Communications

COOP NOAA

None COOP/Interoperability

Distress Safety

and Calling

NOAA

865

None

Voice

Communications

For Emergency Net OSY 16 None COOP

HF Coordination Research, Development,

Test and Evaluation Support

NOAA 2 None

Time Standard Time Transmission NIST 17 None COG

Amateur Radio Meteorological Operations

(Severe Weather

Observations)

NOAA Not direct NOAA requirement. Service provided to NOAA by Amateur

Radio Community

2-30 MHz

Communications

Emergency, SHARES NTIA 4 2 additional channels COOP, COG,

Interoperability

Law Enforcement NOAA 5 None Land Mobile

Radio

Geodetic Field

Communications

NOAA 7 None

30-40 MHz

Animal Tracking Fish Tags NOAA None

AMBCS

(Meteorburst

Communications)

Meteorological/Hydrologic

Operations

NOAA 15 6 additional sites per

year

COG 40-42 MHz

VHF

Coordination

Research, Development,

Test and Evaluation Support

NOAA 4 None

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

40-42 MHz

(continued)

Radar Wind and Temperature

Profiling Radars

NOAA minor

Land Mobile

Radio

Law Enforcement NOAA 3 None

Communications

Emergency, SHARES NTIA 1 None COOP, COG,

Interoperability

42-50 MHz

R&D Harbor Area Observation NOAA 5 None

50 MHz Profiler Research Profiler NOAA 1 None

108-117.975

MHz

Navigation Aeronautical

Radionavigation

NOAA Receive only None

118-136.975

MHz

Communication Aeronautical Mobile NOAA None

Interoperability

121.45-121.55

MHz

SARSAT Emergency Position Beacons NOAA NOAA requirement is

receive only

Expected to be phased

out within the next 5

years

122-123 MHz Communications

“ground to air”

Severe Storm Studies and

related weather/climate

studies

NOAA 2 None

137-138 MHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Transmission to Earth NOAA 10 None

144.390 MHz Citizen Weather

Data

Citizen Weather Observer

Program

NOAA Not direct NOAA use. Service provided to NOAA by Amateur Radio

Community

151.4 MHz Animal Tracking Fish Tags NOAA 0 Future system- extent

of use unknown at this

time.

156-157.5 Maritime Mobile

Radio

Inter-Ship Communications NOAA 16 None

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

Land Mobile

Radio

Operations Support,

Maintenance, and Security

NOAA,

NIST,

Census,

Office of

Secretary,

Office of

Security

None

Hydrologic

Networks

Meteorological/Hydrologic

Operations

NOAA Potential deployment

of 8 – 10,000 new

sites for NERON

Program

NOAA Weather

Radio

Public All-Hazards

Warnings

NOAA None COG

EMWIN Meteorological Operations

in Support of Emergency

Management Activities

NOAA EMWIN phased out in

5 to 10 years

COOP

Animal Tracking Marine Mammal Radio Tags NOAA Expanded use over

next 3 years

Research RDTE Support NOAA

4366

None

Research RDTE Support NTIA 19 None

162-174 MHz

Transportation CEN 3 None

213 MHz Wind Profiler

Radar

Experimental Tropospheric

Profiler

NOAA 1 None

Hurricane

Reconnaissance

Aircraft

Communications

Meteorological Operations NOAA 2 None COG 225-400 MHz

SARSAT

(242.95-243.05

MHz)

Emergency Position Beacons NOAA NOAA requirement is

receive only

Expected to be phased

out within the next 5

years

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

Radiosondes Meteorological Operations

and Atmospheric Research

NOAA None COG

Wind Profiler

Radar

Wind Profiler Radar

Experimental Network

NOAA Discontinued use of

401-406 MHz.

MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Collection Platform

Transmission to Satellite

NOAA

1048

None

400.15-406 MHz

Radiosondes Test and Research NTIA 1 None

406-406.1 SARSAT EPIRB Uplink NOAA 2 None

Automated

Surface

Observing System

Meteorological

Operations(aviation support)

NOAA None COG

Hydrologic

Networks

Meteorological/Hydrologic

Operations

NOAA None COG

NOAA Weather

Radio Links

Public All-Hazards

Warnings

NOAA None COG

Satellite Animal

Tracking

Transmit Fish

Electromyogram Data

NOAA Expanded use in next

3 years

Research Miscellaneous Research NIST None

Land Mobile

Radio

Law Enforcement BIS None

Research Tsunami Warning Research NOAA None

FedSMR Trunking System NTIA None Interoperability Land Mobile

Radio (LMR)

Operations Support CEN None

Physical

Oceanographic

Real Time

System (PORTS)

Ocean Current Measurement

System

NOAA None

Water Level

Stations

Measure tide levels NOAA None

406.1-420 MHz

Research RDTE Support NTIA

1618

None

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

449 MHz Wind Profiler

Radar

Meteorological Operations

and Atmospheric Research

NOAA 5 Deployment of 37

systems - vacating 401-

406 MHz band.

458.54 MHz Animal Tracking VEMCO Fish Tracking

System

NOAA 3 None

460-470 MHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Collection Platform

Interrogation from GOES

NOAA 15 Expand to include

polar-orbiting satellites

861-866 MHz Research RDTE Support NTIA 6 None

816-821 MHz Voice

Communication

Storm Intercept Vehicles ERL 25 None

902-928 MHz Wind Profiler

Radar

Atmospheric Research NOAA 3 None

1164-1188 MHz Radionavigation

Satellite Service

GPS L5 NOAA NOAA requirement is

receive only and is

critical to many

operations

To be transmitted in

2007 when first Block

IIF satellite is launched

1215-1240 MHz Radionavigation

Satellite Service

GPS L2 NOAA NOAA requirement is

receive only and is

critical to many

operations

New atmospheric

observing systems

1215-1400 MHz Meteorological

Radar

Research Air Turbulence and

Meteorological Radars

NOAA None

1400-1450 MHz Radio Astronomy Environmental Research NOAA New oceans and

surface data collections

1544-1545 MHz SARSAT Search and Rescue

Downlink

NOAA 33 None

1559-1610 MHz Radionavigation

Satellite Service

GPS L1 NOAA NOAA requirement is

receive only and is

critical to many

operations

New atmospheric

observing systems

TABLE 1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

1675-1683 MHz Radiosondes Meteorological Operations NOAA 124 None

(Deployment of

modernized system

underway- spectrum

efficiency increased

reducing requirements

50%)

1670-1710 MHz Satellite Data

Downlinks

Command and Data

Acquisition

Data Collection Platform

Report

NOAA 82 None COG

Meteorological

Data Exchange

NEXRAD link NOAA None COG 1765-1840 MHz

Video

Transmission

Remote Wildlife Monitoring NOAA

None

2000-2400 MHz Satellite Uplink TT&C NOAA 54 None COG

2412 MHz R&D Experimental Testing of

802.11B system

ERL 1 None

2700-3000 MHz Meteorological

Radar

Forecast and Warnings

Operations

NOAA 145 None COG

Meteorological Operations

(AWIPS, NWWS, ISCS,

NIDS, MetLab)

NOAA 38 None 3/6 GHz Commercial

Fixed Satellite

Services

Weather and All-Hazards

Warning

NOAA

0 Future requirement- up

to 800 Earth stations

COG

4800-4990 MHz Research RDTE Support NTIA 6 None

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

4950-5450 MHz Meteorological

Radar

Atmospheric Research NOAA 5 Ongoing Research for

future potential

requirements

5250-5570 MHz Satellite Active

Sensing

NPOESS Altimeter NOAA 0 Future requirement,

circa 2010

5600-5650 MHz Meteorological

Radar

Atmospheric Research NOAA 5 Ongoing research for

future potential

requirement

6425 – 7025

Satellite

Passive Sensing

Conical Microwave Imaging

Sounder (CMIS)

NOAA ** None COG

7190-7235 MHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Transmission to

Spacecraft

NOAA 2 None

7750-7850 MHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Transmission to Earth NOAA 0 Use by NPOESS,

circa 2010

8025-8400 MHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Transmission to Earth

and Spacecraft

NOAA 6 Possible GOES

Series R use

Meteorological

Radar

Atmospheric Research NOAA 7 Possible deployment

of gap filler radars.

Number of systems

not yet determined.

9300-9500 MHz

Experimental

Radar

Research NTIA 1 None

10.6 - 10.8 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

CMIS NOAA ** None COG

12/14 GHz Commercial

Fixed Satellite

Services

Tsunami Warning Network NOAA 5 None COG

14-14.5 GHz AVKSAT 1214-1

Commercial

Service Provider

Data compression research

of satellites

NTIA 1 None

13.25 – 13.75

GHz

Satellite Active

Sensing

NPOESS Altimeter NOAA 0 Future requirement,

circa 2010

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

15.731 GHz Research Experimental System to

measure electromagnetic

propagation during

precipitation

NOAA 1 None

18.1-18.3 GHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Data Transmission to Earth NOAA Future requirement

23.6 – 24 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

Advanced Microwave

Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-

A) Sensor, Advanced

Technology Microwave

Sounder (ATMS), CMIS

NOAA ** None COG

25.5-27 GHz MetSat Data

Transmission

Stored mission data

transmission to Earth

NOAA 0 Use for NPOESS,

circa 2010

31.3 - 31.5 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

AMSU-A and ATMS NOAA ** None COG

34.5-35 GHz Radar Clouds and other related

weather research

NOAA 3 Minor increases

possible

36 – 37 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

CMIS NOAA ** None COG

50.2-50.4 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

AMSU-A, CMIS and ATMS NOAA ** None COG

51.4 - 59.3 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

AMSU-A, CMIS and ATMS NOAA ** None COG

59.3 – 60.55

GHz

Satellite Passive

Sensing

CMIS NOAA ** None COG

86 – 92 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

AMSU-A, AMSU-B, ATMS

and CMIS

NOAA ** None COG

148.5 –155.5

GHz

Satellite Passive

Sensing

Microwave Humidity

Sounder

NOAA ** None COG

164 – 167 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

ATMS and CMIS NOAA ** None COG

TABLE A1 (continued)- Summary of DOC Spectrum Requirements

Band

System

Current Use

Bureau

Number of

Assignments*

Projected Change

in Requirements

In Next 10 Years

COOP,

COG or

Interoperability

174.8 - 191.8

GHz

Satellite Passive

Sensing

AMSU-B, CMIS and

Microwave Humidity

Sounder

NOAA ** None COG

316 -334 GHz Satellite Passive

Sensing

CMIS NOAA ** None COG

* Number of Assignments reflects total number in the indicated band and may not reflect actual number of users in that band due

to generic assignments (i.e. U.S. and Possessions (US&P) assignments).

** Passive only operations. Frequency assignments not required, but may be submitted.

1 - Band not allocated to EESS (passive).

ANNEX B

DOC Office and Bureau Spectrum Requirements Points of Contact

Office of Radio Frequency Management (ORFM): ORFM is responsible for spectrum

management for DOC and its agencies.

• James Mentzer, james.m[email protected], (301) 713-1853 x176

Office of Security:

• Robert Page, [email protected], (202) 482-8333

Bureau of Industry and Security:

• Dawn Leaf, dleaf@bis.doc.gov, (202) 482-4143

Economics and Statistics Administration:

• Christopher D. Volatile. cristopher[email protected], (301) 763-1805

Minority Business Development Agency:

• Ronald Marin, [email protected], (202) 482-3341

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

• Knute Berstis (NOS), [email protected], (301) 713-2853

• John Bortniak (NMFS), john.bor[email protected], (301) 713-2252

• Steve Brodet (NOS), stev[email protected], (301) 713-2653

• Frank Coluccio (NMAO), fr[email protected], (206) 553-4548

• Franz Zichy (NWS), [email protected], (301) 713-1853

• Seth I. Gutman (OAR), se[email protected], (303) 497-7031

• Teresa Maraia (OAR), [email protected], (303) 497-6548

• Dave McGinnis (NESDIS), dave[email protected], (301) 713-2789

• Charles Payton (NOS), [email protected], (301) 713-2897

• Roger V. Pierce (OAR), r[email protected], (301) 713-2465

• Mark E. Rogers (NMAO), [email protected], (813) 828-3310

• Jim H. Roles (NMAO), [email protected], (813) 828-3310

• Todd C. Stiles (NMAO-PPI), [email protected], (301) 713-1622 x201

National Telecommunications and Information Administration:

• Leslie A. Taylor, [email protected], (202) 482-4214

• John McFall, [email protected], (202) 482-1486

Technology Administration:

• Deana Ramsburg, [email protected], (301) 975-3325

United States Patent and Trademark Office:

• Ronald Hack, [email protected], (571) 272-9095

ANNEX C

Acronyms and Abbreviations

ALE - Automatic Link Establishment

ALERT - Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time

AMBCS - Alaska Meteorburst Communications System

AMSU-A - Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit A

AMSU-B - Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B

ARGOS – POES Data Collection System

ASOS - Automated Surface Observing System

AWIPS - Automated Weather Information Processing System

BIS - Bureau of Industry and Security

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access

COSPAS-SARSAT - Cosmitscheskaja Sistema Poiska

Awarinitsch Sudow - Search and Rescue Satellite-aided Tracking

CMIS - Conical Microwave Imaging Sounder

COOP - Continuity of Operations

COG - Continuity of Government

CWOP - Citizen weather Observer Program

DHS - Department of Homeland Security

DOC - Department of Commerce

DOD - Department of Defense

EESS - Earth Exploration Satellite Service

EMWIN - Emergency Manager’s Weather Information Network

EPIRB - emergency position indicating radio beacon

FAA - Federal Aviation Administration

FCC - Federal Communications Commission

FedSMR - Federal Specialized Mobile Radio

FM - frequency modulation

FRSC - Federal Radio Service Corporation

FSS - fixed satellite service

GDP - gross domestic product

GHz - gigahertz

GMF - Government Master File

GEOSS - Global Earth Observation System of Systems

GLONASS - Global Navigation Satellite System

GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GOES-R - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite,

Series R

HF- high frequency

IEOS - Integrated Earth Observation System

ISCS - International Satellite Communications System

ITS - Institute of Telecommunications Sciences

kHz - kilohertz

LAN - local area network

LMR- land mobile radio

MetAids - meteorological aids

MetSat - meteorological satellite

MHz - Megahertz

MSS - mobile-satellite service

NEF - National Essential Function

NERON - Near Real Time Observing Network

NESDIS - National Environmental Satellite and Data

NIDS - NEXRAD Information Display System

NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOS - National Ocean Service

NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Service

NPOESS - National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental

NS/EP - National Security/Emergency Preparedness

NTIA - National Telecommunications and Information

Administration

NTS - National Telecommunications System

NWR - NOAA Weather Radio

NWRL - NOAA Weather Radio Links

NWS - National Weather Service

NWWS - NOAA Weather Wire Service

OAR - Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

OEE - Office of Export Enforcement

ORFM - Office of Radio Frequency Management

P25 - Project 25

PC - personal computer

PLB - personal locating beacon

PMEF - Priority Mission Essential Function

POES - Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite

PTSN - public telephone switched network

R&D - research and development

RDTE - research, development, test and evaluation

RF - radio frequency

RRS - Radiosonde Replacement System

SARSAT - Search and Rescue Satellite

SHARES - Shared Resources

TPC - Tropical Prediction Center

TT&C - telemetry, tracking and control

UHF - Ultra-high frequency

US&P - United States and possessions

USMCC - United States Mission Control Center

USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office

VA - Veteran’s Administration

VLF - very low frequency

VOS - Voluntary Observing Ship

WFO - weather forecast office

WRC-2007 - 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference

WWV - call sign for NIST HF transmit station in Fort Collins, CO

WWVB - call sign for NIST VLF transmit station in

Fort Collins, CO

WWVH - call sign for NIST VLF transmit station in Hawaii