Phase I Submission Name of Program: NASA Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Management Program

Transcription

1 Phase I Submission Name of Program: NASA Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Management Program Name of Program Leader: Wayne A. Whyte Phone Number: Wayne.A.Whyte@nasa.gov Postage Address: NASA Glenn Research Center Brookpark Rd. Mail Stop 54-2 Cleveland, OH Name of Customer Representative: Edward Davison Phone Number: edavison@ntia.doc.gov Bio for program leader: Mr. Whyte is currently NASA s International Spectrum Program Manager in the Space Communications Office within the Space Operations Project Office of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at NASA s Glenn Research Center. He oversees NASA s international spectrum management activities and has served on the U.S. Delegations to six World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC), leading the NASA contingent at each of the past four WRC s (WRC-2000, WRC-2003, WRC-2007, and WRC-2012). Mr. Whyte is the current U.S. Chair of ITU-R Study Group 7 (Science Services) and has led NASA delegations to the Space Frequency Coordination Group since Prior to his current position, Mr. Whyte was Chief of the Spectrum Management Office at the Glenn Research Center (formerly NASA Lewis Research Center, LeRC). From 1996 through October 2004, Mr. Whyte s branch was responsible for implementing NASA HQ Spectrum Management Program. This responsibility included securing of adequate frequency spectrum resources the Agency required in the performance of all flight missions, including spectrum for all active emitters as well as passive sensors. Prior to this position, Mr. Whyte was the Acting Chief (and Deputy Branch Chief) of the Communications Systems Branch within the Space Electronics Division at LeRC where he managed communications systems engineering, advanced communications systems concepts development, regulatory support, and spectrum management activities. Prior to the 1988 Space World Administrative Radiocommunication Conference (WARC-88), he led the development of a major computer software package (NASARC) for use in generating a flexible allotment planning procedure at WARC-88. Mr. Whyte began his career at Lewis Research Center in 1979 following graduation from the University of Cincinnati majoring in Electrical Engineering. He subsequently received a M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Toledo University in AVIATION WEEK PROGRAM EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 1

2 Phase I Program Narrative - 1 The NASA Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Management Program develops policy and provides planning, coordination, and representation to secure and maintain necessary radio frequency spectrum (with adequate regulatory protections) to support the Agency's present and future programmatic goals both within the United States and internationally. The Spectrum Management Program also considers new uses of radio spectrum and changes to spectrum policy proposed by entities external to NASA to determine potential positive or negative impacts to present and future system operations. The NASA National Spectrum Program Manager acts as the interface between the NASA Program/Projects and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the purpose of obtaining Spectrum Certifications and Frequency Authorizations for NASA operations and projects as required under domestic regulations. Internationally, NASA Spectrum Management participates in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, to ensure Agency compliance with international rules and regulations pertaining to the use of radio frequencies, to ensure timely dissemination of technical and regulatory changes to the NASA Centers, to participate in studies that may affect access to required spectrum by NASA missions/operations, and to provide planning and implementation of actions required to obtain new spectrum allocations or to enhance existing radio regulations. In order to perform these functions within the ITU, it is often necessary to negotiate/coordinate with foreign Administrations in addition to other U.S. governmental entities. NASA Spectrum Management represents the Agency on U.S. Delegations to World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC), treaty level meetings attended by more than 160 countries and organized under the ITU. The NASA Spectrum Management Program is a matrix program throughout the Agency. Each NASA field center has a Center Spectrum Manager who serves as the interface to the missions and projects under the cognizance of the respective Centers. Each Center Spectrum Manager coordinates RF spectrum requirements for the site including the licensing of all transmitters, maintains the electromagnetic integrity of the site and its flight missions through proper selection of RF equipment, frequencies, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, and ensures day-to-day interference-free operations at the site and by its flight missions. Each Center Spectrum Manager works through the NASA National Spectrum Program Manager to obtain domestic regulatory authorization in the form of spectrum certifications and frequency assignments for their Center s missions. Similarly, the Center Spectrum Managers work with and through the NASA International Spectrum Program Manager to identify and obtain changes to the International Radio Regulations to support future mission requirements. The NASA spectrum policy is established by the NASA Headquarters Director of Spectrum Policy and Planning. The National and International Spectrum Program Managers implement the necessary procedures to: (1) Obtain adequate spectrum to support Agency programs. (2) Ensure Agency compliance with national and international rules and regulations AVIATION WEEK PROGRAM EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 2

3 Phase I Program Narrative - 2 (3) Ensure timely processing of spectrum allocations and frequency assignment requests. (4) Ensure timely dissemination of technical and regulatory changes to the Center Spectrum Managers. (5) Provide the means for NASA Mission Program Managers to obtain guidance on spectrum matters so that spectrum-dependent devices are coordinated at the conceptual stage. (6) Ensure identification and mitigation of any radio frequency interference (RFI), which might be caused or suffered by Agency operational programs. (7) Provide planning (with coordination of the HQ Mission Directorates) and implementation of actions required to obtain new allocations or enhanced radio regulations through national and international organizations. (8) Provide spectrum planning and support to NASA's technology transfer mission. (9) Advocate rules and rule changes that support the lowest life-cycle cost technical solutions to NASA programs for meeting their communications needs. The organization of NASA s Spectrum Management Program allows for rapid and effective two-way flow of information between strategic spectrum decision makers and mission project organizations across the ten NASA field centers. Uniform guidance and direction is provided across the Agency, while the specific needs of individual projects are communicated and addressed in an efficient manner. Since 2010, this flow of information has been enhanced through the development of a common database of NASA s historical, existing, and planned spectrum information. This single repository can now be accessed to inform projects and programs of the status of their regulatory authorizations while using the same data to summarize agency wide spectrum uses for spectrum policy and planning decision makers. In order to enhance the implementation of the national and international spectrum management policies, NASA has adopted procedures for requesting frequency assignments and for obtaining new frequency allocations. These procedures allow for a coordinated process starting with identification of Agency program/project needs and ending with national and international recognition of actual frequency band usage. In most cases, identification of RF spectrum support for Agency needs is focused on frequency bands currently allocated nationally and internationally for the particular radio service for which the Agency requires support. This includes both terrestrial use (in fixed and mobile allocations) and space use (in space radiocommunication service allocations that support the U.S. space programs). However, in some cases, particularly as new scientific, technological, and commercial requirements emerge and bands lower in the RF spectrum become congested, it may be necessary to move Agency operations to other portions of the RF spectrum where appropriate allocations do not currently exist. New domestic allocations may be made by revisions to the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations as a result of a systems review process which includes a study of current operations within the affected frequency bands AVIATION WEEK PROGRAM EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 3

4 Phase I Program Narrative - 3 In cases where new frequency allocations are deemed necessary, it is imperative that long lead times be allowed for the national and international processes which are required for new allocations to be made. ITU WRC have the authority to allocate portions of the RF spectrum under international law based on a specific set agenda of items for consideration. These WRCs occur on a periodic basis (~every 4 years). Recognizing the long lead times required, the NASA Spectrum Management Program works closely with NASA mission planners to identify future critical path spectrum requirements well in advance of these conferences so that necessary supporting technical and regulatory arguments can then be prepared and presented. At WRC all of NASA s objectives were fully met including a new space research uplink allocation in GHz to support future exploration missions, enhanced protection of the GHz space research band, enhanced recognition of the importance of Earth observing systems and modification of the footnote governing passive services use of the bands from GHz. In addition, NASA was successful in getting all of the agenda items that we sought to have included on the WRC-15 agenda. The NASA Spectrum Management Program maintains a very active involvement in the international regulatory process. Significant technical interests for NASA are in the ITU Radiocommunication Sector Study Group 7 and its associated Working Parties (7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D) concerned with the science services (i.e., those radiocommunication services that directly support scientific activities), which support federal and commercial space programs. NASA Spectrum personnel play key roles in the work of this Study Group and include an international Vice-Chairman of Study Group 7 and the international Chairman of Working Party 7B dealing with space radio systems. In general, technical studies of current interest are supplied to the United States Study Group or the cognizant Working Party by NASA spectrum management civil servant and contractor personnel prior to submission internationally as a U.S. document. When approved by the U.S. Study Group or Working Party, they are forwarded to the National Committee of the U.S. Department of State's International Telecommunications Advisory Committee for the Radiocommunication Sector (ITAC-R) for national policy review prior to being submitted for international consideration. The results of these studies provide the technical bases for U.S. proposals to WRC. In addition to the space science services, NASA also contributes to the work of Study Group 1 (Spectrum Management), Study Group 3 (Radiowave Propagation), Study Group 4 (Satellite Services), Study Group 5 (Terrestrial Services), and Study Group 6 (Broadcasting Services), to assist the commercial industry in better meeting the long-term communications requirements of NASA, as well as to protect and promote NASA use of allocated frequency bands. The NASA spectrum management personnel have acquired many key positions within the U.S. and International study groups and working parties, particularly related to the science services. Through these chairmanships, NASA influences and guides U.S. ITU/WRC preparations in order to effectively address Agency needs AVIATION WEEK PROGRAM EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 4

5 Phase I Program Narrative - 4 The NASA Spectrum Management Program also participates heavily in both domestic and international coordination activities to advocate and seek support for NASA s spectrum requirements. Biannual coordination meetings are held with the Department of Defense and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure compatible operations across shared frequency bands. Internationally, NASA is a major participant in the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG), comprised of civil space agencies from throughout the world. The SFCG provides a forum for multilateral discussion and coordination of spectrum matters of mutual interest concerning, in particular, the following space radiocommunication services as defined in the ITU Radio Regulations: space research space operations Earth exploration-satellite meteorological-satellite inter-satellite radionavigation-satellite radio astronomy and radar astronomy to the extent that they are relevant to spacecraft missions The SFCG Member agencies have developed procedures to reach consensus objectives for WRC agenda items of mutual interest/concern. As SFCG Member Agency Administrations are included in all six regional organizations in the ITU, it serves as a very effective means of influencing international regulatory decisions affecting the space science community. NASA Spectrum Management Program involvement in SFCG effectively promotes U.S./NASA spectrum policy around the world. The radio frequency spectrum is a valuable and finite resource. Science interests are often contrasted with commercial interests and forced to compete for limited spectrum resources. NASA Spectrum Management Program takes an active role in the domestic and international spectrum management processes to ensure NASA mission requirements are satisfied while helping to ensure global competitiveness for U.S. industry. The program s organizational structure throughout the Agency allows for rapid gathering and dissemination of information to quickly react to the dynamic forces affecting NASA s use of the radio-frequency spectrum. The NASA Spectrum Management Program is responsible for approximately 2,500 frequency assignments in support of the terrestrial, aeronautical and space activities across the Agency. The Program measures performance in part by the degree to which new frequency assignments and system certifications are obtained in a timely manner meeting the requirements of NASA missions. International aspects of the program are measured on the degree to which frequency allocations for science services are obtained, enhanced, and protected through changes to the International Radio Regulations AVIATION WEEK PROGRAM EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 5