Spectrum Management Program
Program Overview
At an investment value of more than $1 billion, DOE has about 9,000 radio frequency authorizations supporting mission, programmatic, and operational requirements. These radio systems include high frequency, land mobile, aeronautical and maritime mobile, microwave, satellites, radar, navigation, telemetry, and surveillance systems. In addition, DOE uses more than 1,000 Power Line Carrier systems to manage and control the transmission of electrical energy. Land Mobile Radio services operating on both conventional and trunked systems provide support to all of the Department’s primary business lines, including National Security, Energy Resources, Scientific Research, and Environmental Restoration. About 60% of the Department’s spectrum resources are used for Land Mobile Radio systems, followed by 25% for microwave systems, and 10% for high frequency systems for emergency purposes. The remaining 5% is for radar, telemetry, and satellite services. DOE operates the largest government-owned VHF trunked radio system, is the largest user of Federal pagers, and uses the spectrum to control power grids for much of the continental United States and support global nuclear proliferation detection. While each of DOE’s four business lines uses spectrum resources, the Energy Resources and National Security business lines use the most. DOE's use of the radio frequency spectrum covers a wide range of operations in support of its mission functions, including:
- power grid control
- electricity transmission
- satellite control for nuclear proliferation detection
- Nuclear Emergency Search Team deployment
- radiological assistance
- transportation safeguards
- perimeter protection
- intrusion detection
- environmental remote sensing
- wildlife monitoring
- seismic monitoring
- radar
- fusion energy research
- cyclotron operation
- remote controlled robotics
- machinery operation
- protective force communication
- wireless networks
- paging services
Business Process
All major DOE spectrum-dependent systems must be certified by NTIA during the initial planning stage prior to the obligation of funds. OMB Circular No. A-11 and NTIA regulations specifically direct that Government agencies shall withhold procurement actions and the obligation of funds, pending certification by NTIA for the approval of spectrum standards and the availability of the appropriate supporting frequencies. This includes DOE-funded research and development programs, operational projects, and equipment procurements by DOE contractors and grantees, where the use of radio frequencies is foreseen as a result. Certification request packages are submitted to the Office of the CIO for review, and if in compliance with NTIA regulations, will be forwarded to the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS), for evaluation and recommendation for system review by NTIA.
Requests for DOE radio frequency authorization (RFA) assignments are submitted to the Office of the CIO. It is the requester's responsibility to define the radio communication requirements, provide technical information on the proposed assignment and justification for use, and prepare the necessary data in accordance with NTIA regulations for submitting an RFA proposal. The DOE Spectrum Management Program office, under the Office of the CIO, will validate the RFA proposal for regulatory and technical compliance, and forward the request to NTIA. The request will be scrutinized by NTIA and the IRAC's Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS), to insure that the RFA proposal meets national spectrum use guidelines, and does not cause, or is subject to receive, interference in the existing electromagnetic environment. If the RFA proposal meets NTIA regulatory standards, and is unanimously voted for approval by the FAS, then NTIA will grant a frequency assignment to the applicant.
Once frequency assignments are granted by NTIA , the Federal agencies are responsible for managing their use of the spectrum. NTIA will administer certain programs, including technical studies and spectrum measurements, to monitor Federal spectrum activity. The NTIA programs are intended to help determine if spectrum usage is in accordance with national regulation, and if interference exists between NTIA-authorized users. To assist NTIA with insuring that Federal spectrum usage is being conducted efficiently, users are required to keep their assignments current and their use consistent with NTIA rules. Once Federal radio stations are decommissioned, the frequency assignments must be returned to NTIA, while continuing assignments shall be renewed by application to NTIA every five years.
Federal Regulators
While NTIA is the national authority responsible for managing Federal Government spectrum and the FCC is the Federal authority responsible for managing state and local government and commercial spectrum, both regulators work with the other Executive Branch agencies and their IRAC representatives to allocate portions of the spectrum for specific radio services. International spectrum allocations typically influence allocation decisions within the United States, however, the interests of the Federal Government and commercial spectrum users usually take precedence. Therefore, domestic and international spectrum allocations do not always coincide. Congress can also influence spectrum allocations through legislation. Once spectrum is allocated, the frequencies become available for managed Federal use under the authority of NTIA, and for state and local government and commercial use under the authority of the FCC.
Because the radio spectrum is a shared resource between NTIA and the FCC, effective coordination between these two authorities is essential. Both NTIA and the FCC establish their individual spectrum requirements and then coordinate these requirements with one another and the IRAC. DOE is a voting member of the IRAC. If difficulties arise in the coordination process, the IRAC will typically facilitate the negotiation efforts. The coordination between NTIA and the FCC is necessitated due to the dual authority over management of the spectrum, resulting in the spectrum being divided between the Federal Government, and state and local government and commercial entities. The remaining portion of the spectrum is designated for shared use, and is jointly managed by NTIA and the FCC.
Last Updated: 3/26/2008
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