Publications

This technical memorandum contains recommendations for antenna models that can be used in performing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis related to spectrum management. The technical memorandum contains two compilations of antenna parameters. The first one is the collection of rules, regulations, and recommendations regarding antennas that are published by regulators, as well as improving, EMC. NTIA conducted an extensive review and analysis of the existing rules, regulations, and recommendations and compiled the findings in this technical memorandum. The second compilation is the recommendations of antenna parameters for spectrum managers to use in conducting EMC analysis associated with: system review for equipment approval, frequency assignment, and spectrum sharing studies. NTIA evaluated the characteristics of the radio services, the federal usage of the radio spectrum, and the technical merit and practicality of the antenna parameters in the rules, regulations, and recommendations, and then developed recommendations of antenna parameters for conducting these EMC analysis tasks of all of the radio services.
 

As required by the President’s Executive Memorandum on the Spectrum Policy Initiative, the Department of Commerce, through NTIA, conducted outreach in the form of public meetings to help in the development of recommendations to improve the public safety spectrum management process. Two separate events were held to solicit input. The first meeting, a Roundtable discussion with State and local public safety frequency coordinators, national public safety organizations, and public safety agencies, was held on November 12, 2003. The second meeting, held on February 10-11, 2004, included a much broader participation from the public safety community, academia, manufacturers, and the general public.

From these meetings, a comprehensive set of findings was extracted and are represented below. Specific supporting findings are detailed in Section 3. The combined findings of these two outreach efforts should be considered as broad in scope based on a limited investigation into the spectrum management issues of State and local public safety as they related to the four objectives in the memorandum. They are generally representative of the public safety community, but are not intended to be a finite and limiting set. Throughout the United States, there are reportedly as many as 55,000 public safety agencies of varying size, mission, and structure. Each has unique problems and solutions regarding its own communications requirements, issues and solutions. It may be unfair and unrealistic to assume that these findings are completely representative of this extraordinarily large base of users.

This report represents the best efforts of the Public Safety community to define and document its critical need for communications resources and the spectrum which will support them — now and through the year 2010. The Final Report concludes that, unless immediate measures are taken to alleviate spectrum shortfalls and promote interoperability, Public Safety agencies will not be able to adequately discharge their obligation to protect life and property in a safe, efficient, and cost effective manner.