Spectrum Management for Science in the 21st Century (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
5 Findings and Recommendations
5 Findings and Recommendations
Pages 177-194
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 177... ...
The committee recognizes that there are many other scientific uses of the spectrum, but it focused on the passive uses because these activities pose unique challenges to the nation's spectrum allocation and management policies. During the course of the study, the committee identified a number of key findings and formulated recommendations concerning passive uses of the radio spectrum for scientific purposes over the next two decades.
|
From page 178... ...
Although the pressure for active use of the spectrum cannot and should not be reduced, the committee nonetheless identified a number of measures that can be taken to help ensure the viability of the passive uses. The recommendations stemming from the committee's study and the findings on which they are based are presented in this chapter.1 5.1 SOCIETAL VALUE OF THE PASSIVE SERVICES In addressing the first and fourth bulleted items in its statement of task, the committee focused on the purpose of the various passive applications within the Earth Exploration-Satellite Service (EESS)
|
From page 179... ...
Finding: Radio astronomy and passive microwave Earth remote sensing provide a diverse and valuable set of educational opportunities. The federal government has historically recognized the importance of both of these fields to the nation.
|
From page 180... ...
ensure that access to spectrum for passive radio and microwave observations of Earth environmental variables and radio astronomical observations of the sky is protected in the development of future spectrum policy. 5.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PASSIVE SPECTRUM SERVICES The committee noted the following broad characteristics of passive EESS and RAS activities and applications.
|
From page 181... ...
While, the spectral band from 10.6 to 10.8 GHz is still relatively free of RFI over the United States, growth in use of this band and C-band by active applications is anticipated. Finding: There is currently inadequate protected spectrum in C-band and X-band for operational passive microwave observations of sea surface temperature, soil moisture, and ocean surface wind speed and direction.
|
From page 182... ...
Global protection is needed due to the band's wide application in observing sea surface temperature, soil moisture, and ocean surface wind direction -- elements critical to the under standing and predicting of Earth's environment. Recommendation 2: The FCC and NTIA should move toward developing a pas sive EESS reference band allocation within 6-8 GHz to facilitate unilateral RFI mitigation.
|
From page 183... ...
Finding: Geographical separation of radio telescopes from transmitters (e.g., through the establishment of radio quiet zones and the remote siting of observa tories) is currently effective in avoiding much radio frequency interference, but the proliferation of airborne and satellite transmissions and the widespread deploy ment of mobile, low-power personal devices threaten even the most remote sites.
|
From page 184... ...
Finding: Greater efforts to collect and analyze radio emission data are needed to support the enforcement of existing allocations and to support the discussion and planning of spectrum use. Finding: Better utilization of the spectrum and reduced RFI for scientific as well as commercial applications are possible with better knowledge of actual spectrum usage.
|
From page 185... ...
Finding: While unilateral radio frequency interference mitigation techniques are a potentially valuable means of facilitating spectrum sharing, they are not a substitute for primary allocated passive spectrum and the enforcement of regulations. Techniques for the excision or subtraction of RFI continue to be developed, but they are only partially successful.
|
From page 186... ...
NASA, NOAA, and the Department of Defense should require that appropriate RFI analyses and tests and practical RFI mitigation techniques be applied to all future satellite systems carrying passive microwave sensors. A secondary benefit of such research would be to quantify the qualitative and limited documentation of unilateral RFI mitigation capabilities and their ultimate utility, as well as to help quantify spectrum usage.
|
From page 187... ...
Recommendation 8: As cooperative spectrum-sharing techniques come into use, NSF and NASA spectrum managers should work with the regulatory agencies to enable observations that require an extremely wide spectral range. Such observa tions would provide a useful metric for the effectiveness of spectrum-sharing techniques for the passive services.
|
From page 188... ...
Recommendation 9: The NTIA and FCC, with the support of the NASA and NSF spectrum managers, should study rulemaking changes that require aggregate emis sion protection and out-of-band and spurious noise protection in primary EESS and RAS bands. More complex methods of understanding and managing spectrum usage may also be required to enable more efficient spectrum usage.
|
From page 189... ...
Recommendation 12: The Office of Science and Technology Policy should create a new, permanent, representative technology advisory body to identify technical and regulatory opportunities for improving spectrum sharing among all active and passive users, both government and nongovernment.
|
From page 190... ...
Spectrum Policy Task Force (November 2002) to encourage spectral efficiency, maintain EESS and RAS spectral allocations, and be prepared to enforce spectrum protection.
|
From page 191... ...
However, the current means of managing spectrum use must be changed, as the current policies threaten to thwart scientific discovery, diminish the utility of important environmental observations, and limit economic growth. Therefore, new spectrum management policies need to be explored to foster these critical national capabilities.
|
From page 192... ...
This is a "win-win" scenario that will enable additional scientific uses without impacting commercial development; and • Inestment in technology to enable spectrum sharing between actie and pas sie users, oer the entire radio spectrum. This investment should become commensurate with the investment made in remote sensing technology.
|
From page 193... ...
It would thus be in the strongest interests of the nation to see that access to spectrum for scientific purposes is maintained during the coming decades. The committee's recommendations provide a pathway for putting in place the regulatory mechanisms and associated supporting research activities necessary to accomplish this important task.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.