Spectrum Engineering Reports

NTIA released this report on March 27, 2012 finding that 95 megahertz (MHz) of prime spectrum, the 1755-1850 MHz band, can be repurposed for wireless broadband use.  While NTIA’s analysis of the federal agencies’ reports shows it is possible, there are several challenges that need to be met before making a formal recommendation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Accordingly, in this report, NTIA proposes a new path forward for spectrum repurposing that relies on a combination of relocating federal users and sharing spectrum between federal agencies and commercial users.  NTIA notes that spectrum sharing will be a vital component to satisfying the growing demand for spectrum, and federal and non-federal users will need to adopt innovative spectrum-sharing techniques to accommodate this demand.  Reallocation of this spectrum would represent significant progress towards achieving President Obama’s goal to nearly double the amount of commercial spectrum available this decade.  The President’s initiative will spur investment, economic growth, and job creation while supporting the growing demand by consumers and businesses for wireless broadband services.

Department of Commerce Report:  An Assessment of the Viability  of Accommodating Wireless Broadband in the 1755-1850 MHz Band (pdf)

Federal Agency Input on 1755-1850 MHz:

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

A wide variety of communications modulation and coding techniques are considered for this handbook including Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Low Density Parity Check Coding (LDPCC) and Turbo Product Coding (TPC). Interferers considered include continuous and pulsed narrow and broadband interferers which are on-tune, off-tune and adjacent channel.

NTIA submits this Progress Report pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum issued on June 28, 2010, which directed the Department of Commerce, working with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to identify and make available 500 megahertz of spectrum over the next ten years for expanded wireless broadband use.

NTIA transmitted to the FCC a letter from Assistant Secretary Strickling with this report titled, Assessment of LightSquared Terrestrial Broadband System Effects on GPS Receivers and GPS-dependent Applications, prepared by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, Timing Systems Engineering Forum (NPEF) on behalf of the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (EXCOM).

In accordance with the Plan to Implement Recommendations of the President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in coordination with relevant federal agencies, conducted a comprehensive study of the U.S. international spectrum policy framework.2 This study reviewed the following four policy considerations:

1. policies and related approaches regarding barriers to the implementation of new spectrum-dependent technologies and services;
2. U.S. technical, administrative and financial contributions to organizations involved in international spectrum policy;
3. cross-border processes for sharing and coordination to ensure compatibility; and
4.  global and regional spectrum harmonization and technical interoperability.

This report is the result of the recommended study effort and examines each of the four identified components of the U.S. international spectrum management framework. In considering each area, an assessment was conducted of how the United States develops positions and interacts with other administrations and regional and international bodies with regard to international spectrum management. Past and ongoing efforts are described and analyzed and conclusions drawn from the outcomes of recent U.S. policy positions. This analysis led to several recommendations for how the U.S. Government might work both to improve national policies and procedures for international spectrum management and also to enhance the underlying framework in which it operates when seeking spectrum for new spectrum-dependent technologies and services.

Prepared by Working Group 7 of the NTIA Spectrum Planning Subcommittee

Public Law 106-553, The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to consult with other federal agencies and departments responsible for regulating the core operations of entities engaged in the provision of energy, water, and railroad services and to report to Congress no later than one year after the Act’s enactment on the current and future use of spectrum by these entities to protect and maintain the Nation’s critical infrastructure.

NTIA reviewed the information collected through comments, reports, and other sources of information. NTIA presents its findings in this report based upon such data. NTIA found that providers of energy, water and railroad services submitting comments for this report had concerns regarding their current and future spectrum requirements. In addition, federal agencies who regulate the core operations of these industries (or some aspect of those operations) generally concur with comments by the industry and its representative trade organizations.

This NTIA document summarizes the findings of NTIA, the FCC’s 3G Working Group, the DOD, and other members of the Intra-Government 3G Planning Group (IG3GPG).  The IG3GPG assessed the 1710-1770 MHz and the 2110-2170 MHz bands to determine if those bands present viable options for accommodating advanced mobile wireless systems.  The 1710-1770 MHz band is used by a number of Federal agencies for fixed microwave systems, airborne and land mobile systems, satellite command and control operations, radio astronomy, weapon control systems, and video surveillance systems.  The 2110-2170 MHz band includes common carrier, multi-point distribution, paging, radiotelephone, local TV transmission, and private point-to-point service licensees.  The 2110-2170 MHz band is also allocated to the mobile satellite service downlink.  During earlier efforts, these particular bands had been identified as offering the greatest potential for additional spectrum for advanced mobile wireless services.

This report is a Spectrum resource Assessment of the 5650-5925 MHz band. Included in information on rules and regulations, allocations, technical standards, frequency assignments, system characteristics, and applicable compatibility analysis.