IRAC

This report is submitted pursuant to Section 207 of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA, Title II of P.L. 108-494), which requires annual reporting on Federal agencies’ progress in vacating their affected wireless communications systems. These systems are being relocated from certain radio spectrum that has been reallocated to commercial use. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published the first annual report to Congress in March 2008. It covered relocation activity during the period from March 2007 through December 2007. This second annual report documents the cumulative progress since the commencement of relocation activity in March of 2007 through December 2008.

This report is submitted pursuant to Section 207 of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), Title II of P.L. 108-494, which requires annual reporting on Federal agencies’ progress in vacating certain wireless communications systems from the 1710 megahertz (MHz) to 1755 MHz radio spectrum that has been reallocated to commercial use. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published the first annual report to Congress in March 2008. That report covered relocation activity during the period from March 2007 through December 2007. The second annual report documented the cumulative progress from March 2007 through December 2008. This third annual report documents the cumulative progress since the commencement of relocation activity in March 2007 through December 2009.

In early 1980, NTIA, through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS), became cognizant of several new major radar systems being developed by Government agencies in the 2700-2900 MHz band. In light of the long history of EMC problems in this band, NTIA recommended to the IRAC that several tasks be undertaken to ensure that the new systems are engineered properly to enhance their accommodation in the 2700-2900 MHz band. The associated tasks identified by NTIA were assigned by the IRAC to the IRAC Technical Subcommittee (TSC) and in turn were referred to the TSC Working Group 1. This report provides background information and summarizes the findings on the referred tasks. Equipment characteristics, radar deployment patterns, usage of the band based on Radio Spectrum Measurement System (RSMS) van measurements, and projected usage of the band in the 1980's were discussed. Also the accommodation of new systems planned for the band was studied. Based on the projected growth in the band and present and projected radar deployment patterns, recommendations were made to the IRAC which would enhance the accommodation of new systems planned for the band.