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The study described in this report was undertaken by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) concerning the operation of a new class of spectrum dependent devices, designated as ultrawideband (UWB) devices under the FCC’s rules and regulations in Part 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This NPRM raises a number of questions and concerns regarding the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the proposed UWB transmitting devices to those spectrum-dependent systems currently in operation. The NTIA, as the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for developing and articulating domestic and international telecommunications policy affecting Federal Government spectrum users, is particularly interested in the potential for interference to telecommunications infrastructure utilizing Federal Government spectrum for critical and/or safety-of-life functions, many of which operate in spectrum designated as the “restricted frequency bands.” These frequency bands have been designated as restricted because the systems operating in them provide critical safety functions. Before NTIA can agree to emissions from UWB devices in restricted frequency bands used by critical Federal Government radiocommunication systems, it must ensure that there is no potential interference introduced from their proposed operations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an example of a critical radio navigation system that operates in several of the restricted frequency bands.

The President signed an executive memorandum dated October 13, 2000, that stated the need and urgency for the United States to select radio frequency spectrum to satisfy the future needs of the citizens and businesses for mobile voice, high-speed data, and Internet-accessible wireless capability; the guiding principles to be used for the development of third generation (3G) wireless systems; and the direction to the Federal agencies to carry out the selection of spectrum. The President directed the Secretary of Commerce to work cooperatively with the FCC to develop a plan to select spectrum for 3G wireless systems, and to report on the current spectrum uses and the potential for reallocation or sharing of the bands identified at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2000) that could be used for 3G systems.

The study described in this report was undertaken by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) concerning the operation of a new class of spectrum-dependent devices, designated as ultrawideband (UWB) devices under the FCC’s rules and regulations in Part 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).1 This NPRM raises a number of questions and concerns regarding the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the proposed UWB transmitting devices with those spectrum-dependent systems currently in operation. The NTIA, as the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for developing and articulating domestic and international telecommunications policy affecting Federal Government spectrum users, is particularly interested in the potential for interference to telecommunications infrastructure utilizing Federal Government spectrum for critical and/or safety-of-life functions, many of which operate in spectrum designated as the restricted frequency bands for that reason. Before UWB devices can operate in restricted frequency bands used by critical Federal Government radiocommunication systems, NTIA must examine the potential interference introduced from their proposed operations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an example of a critical radionavigation system that operates in several of the restricted frequency bands.

On behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has prepared this report in response to Title XVII, Section 1705 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2001. It represents part of a joint submission to the Congress by NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission regarding alternative frequencies for use by state and local public safety agencies. It is submitted as a separate report, under a joint cover letter, outlining the issues involving the use of alternative frequency bands allocated for federal use. Another important part of this legislation directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to study the feasibility of sharing frequencies in the 138-144 MHz band with non-federal public safety agencies.

The FCC's companion report is posted at http://wireless.fcc.gov/releases/020118-Alternate_138-144_Report.pdf

This report follows a series of recent Internet security policy recommendations made by the Obama administration. In order to gather additional stakeholder input and refine this report’s preliminary recommendations, the Commerce Department will seek public comment and publish questions from the report in a Federal Register notice. The Commerce Department’s Internet Policy Task Force will also continue to work with others in government to engage the domestic and global privacy community, and will consider publishing a refined set of policy recommendations in the future.

The full report, including questions seeking additional stakeholder input, can be found on the NIST web site, http://www.nist.gov/itl/upload/Cybersecurity_Green-Paper_FinalVersion.pdf