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Key Recommendations

CORE NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES

Key Recommendation 1: NIST should ensure there is adequate coordination of work across the multiple laboratories engaged in quantum networking efforts to make sure that synergies and efficiencies are realized and different laboratories do not work at cross purposes, especially across the various NIST laboratories involved in quantum computing and metrology research.

Key Recommendation 2: CTL should establish an artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) 5-year roadmap. This roadmap should include the application of AI and ML to 5G and 6G core networks, energy efficiencies, data management, and digital twins.

Key Recommendation 3: CTL should accelerate the development of a testbed with the Next-Generation Wireless team to enable a system that can fully test 5G/6G systems. CTL should foster collaboration between the Core Networks and Next-Generation Wireless teams to find and leverage synergies.

FUNDAMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNOLOGIES AND STANDARDS

Key Recommendation 4: Given the fundamental nature of FETS, the Radio Frequency Technology Division should create a system or database that tags key projects and links them to other work within or between different CTL focus areas, divisions, or NIST laboratory projects. Such a system would provide tracking of the work throughout CTL and allow others to better understand the connections, impacts, uses, evolution, and sunsetting of the work.

Key Recommendation 5: CTL should investigate the reasons behind the trend in the number of calibrations performed annually. Specifically, CTL should understand (1) the significant drop in 2018, (2) the surge in 2019, and (3) the trend during the pandemic. The results of this investigation should inform a strategic plan for determining if there needs to be a goal for achieving the desired amount of CTL calibration work and what that amount might be.

NEXT-GENERATION WIRELESS

Key Recommendation 6: CTL should create a roadmap of what the next 5 years of NextG Channel Model Alliance’s work will look like. The group should use this roadmap to determine where they can leverage CTL’s unique capabilities to focus on the key gaps and make the biggest impacts on next-generation wireless technology and its deployment in the next 5 years.

Key Recommendation 7: The Next-Generation Wireless group should be actively involved in the Open RAN testbed selection process in collaboration with the Core Networks group. The selection process and criteria of the Open RAN testbed process should be well documented and disseminated to the other national laboratories that are also looking to acquire similar testbeds in the near term.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH

Key Recommendation 8: The PSCR Division should define its mission beyond the mandates of the Public Safety Trust Fund. Changes to the nation’s infrastructure and technology need to be taken into consideration for PSCR to position itself to stay ahead of the evolving needs of the first responder community, and effectively support public safety communication in a changing world. Working with stakeholders to understand the impact of changes and prepare for them requires collaboration with other divisions in CTL, such as with the teams working on smart connected systems and next-generation networking.

Key Recommendation 9: The PSCR Division should take a leadership role in developing a sustainable model for bringing together stakeholders to research, develop, and commercialize public safety innovations. CTL should ensure the continuation of the PSCR Division’s community leadership role and its functions in convening meetings of stakeholders and PSCR community groups.

SPECTRUM SHARING AND SENSING

Key Recommendation 10: CTL should engage actively with industry, including wireless standards groups, to remain aware of upcoming and pressing spectrum coexistence issues. The Spectrum Technology and Research Division should develop a framework that allows fast pivoting of resources (and techniques) as new bands become available to be able to contribute timely, accurate, and unbiased assessments of coexistence among increasingly dense and disparate spectrum uses.

Key Recommendation 11: The Spectrum Sharing and Sensing team should collaborate closely with the Rydberg Atom-based Radio Frequency Field Probe team to examine the probe’s potential application to spectrum sensing and metrology and identify key technology opportunities in the space of spectrum metrology.

FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND PERSONNEL

Key Recommendation 12: CTL should immediately prioritize its budget allocations to rectify the Building 24 issues by making improvements or relocating its work to an improved facility.

Key Recommendation 13: As its workforce continues to grow and mature, CTL should find ways to showcase select important technologies developed in the course of its work as part of its diversity strategy. These efforts should make use of popular culture and lay language to appeal to the broadest base possible.

Key Recommendation 14: As part of the CTL diversification staff strategy, CTL should encourage and partner with technical staff to develop a strategic plan that leverages existing and potential opportunities available for growing and training the talent pool within the desired areas of expertise with the help of professional societies and minority-serving institutions campuses. Examples of these opportunities include partnering with historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Project Connect, and the Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering organization.