Recent Activities of the Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF)

1
Recent Activities of the Committee on Radio
Frequencies (CORF)

• Steven C. Reising
• Associate Professor and Director
• Microwave Systems Laboratory
• Colorado State University
• Steven.Reising_at_ColoState.edu
• With extensive contributions from other members
  of the U.S. National Research Councils Committee
  on Radio Frequencies (CORF) and Spectrum Study
  Committee

2
Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF)

• The committee
• Standing Committee of The U.S. National
  Academies Board on Physics and Astronomy
• Deals with radio-frequency requirements and
  interference protection primarily through filing
  comments under the aegis of the National Academy
  of Sciences in public proceedings of the FCC and
  NTIA.
• Coordinates the views of U.S. scientists and acts
  as a channel for representing the interests of
  U.S. scientists.
• Is supported by NASA and NSF.

3
Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF)

• Membership (10 University, 2 Federal Government)
• Jeffrey Piepmeier, Chair, NASA Goddard Space
  Flight CenterAna P. Barros, Duke University
  Steven W. Ellingson, Virginia Tech Kenneth
  Kellermann, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
  David G. Long, Brigham Young University Darren
  McKague, University of Michigan James M. Moran,
  Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  Melinda Piket-May, University of Colorado at
  Boulder Alan E.E. Rogers, Massachusetts
  Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory
  Steven C. Reising, Colorado State University
  Liese van Zee, Indiana University Lucy Ziurys,
  University of Arizona

4
Submissions to U.S. FCC

• February 5, 2007
• In response to FCC NPRM on Recommendations
  approved by the Advisory Committee for WRC-07,
  CORF discusses the importance of the scientific
  observations performed only in the Earth
  Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) bands at
  36.0-37.0 GHz and the need to protect such
  observations. CORF also urges the Commission to
  reinstate a mandatory power limit in Document
  WAC/151 in order to protect that EESS band.

5
Submissions to U.S. FCC

• August 13, 2007
• In response to FCC NPRM on an amendment to Part
  90 of the FCCs Rules, CORF notes its concern
  about the potential impact of proposed permanent
  fixed microwave operations in the 4940-4990 MHz
  band on RAS. CORF recommends that if the FCC
  decides to authorize such permanent fixed
  operations, it should enact rules requiring prior
  frequency coordination of such operations, in
  order to protect RAS observations.

6
Submissions to U.S. FCC

• August 16, 2007
• In response to FCC NPRM on an amendment to Parts
  2 and 35 of the FCCs Rules to allocate spectrum
  and adopt service rules and procedures to govern
  the use of Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations in
  certain frequency bands allocated to the Fixed
  Satellite Service, CORF discusses the importance
  to RAS observations at 14.47-14.50 GHz and
  supports portions of the FCCs proposal, as
  modified by CORF, to protect RAS observations in
  this band with coordination requirements.

7
Submissions to U.S. FCC

• July 21, 2009
• In response to FCC NOI on A National Broadband
  Plan for Our Future, CORF addresses issues
  regarding a proposed spectrum inventory and
  discusses the need to recognize and protect the
  passive scientific use of the spectrum in
  connection with any such inventory.  CORF also
  addresses the potential impact of cognitive radio
  technologies on passive scientific use of the
  spectrum.

8
Submissions to U.S. FCC

• November 5, 2009
• In response to FCC NOI on Fostering Innovation
  and Investment in the Wireless Communications
  Market, and A National Broadband Plan for Our
  Future, CORF notes that the initial comments in
  response to the NOI did not address the passive
  scientific use of the spectrum, and so CORF
  discusses the unique value, innovation and
  vulnerability of passive scientific use of the
  spectrum, and the impact on issues of
  interference protection and spectrum efficiency
  raised in the NOI.

9
CORF Colloquium in Santiago, Chile (1 of 2)

• CORF convened a colloquium in Santiago, Chile on
  August 10-11, 2009 to bring together scientists,
  engineers, spectrum managers, and civil servants
  who are interested in the scientific use of the
  electromagnetic spectrum.
• Purpose
• To generate awareness of spectrum protection
  issues affecting the region
• To conduct outreach as well as to educate CORF
  itself on spectrum management concerns in South
  and Central America.
• Instigate interest in a Region 2 RAS EESS
  scientific advisory body

10
CORF Colloquium in Santiago, Chile (2 of 2)

• Presentations from Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and
  the U.S.
• CORF members discussed future plans to increase
  communication on RAS and EESS spectrum management
  topics among scientists in CITEL countries,
  particularly Latin American nations.
• Site visit to the ALMA Operations Support
  Facilities (2900 m altitude) and Array Operations
  Site (5000 m altitude)

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Chairs Remarks at Fall 2009 Meeting (1 of 2)

• This has been a busy year for CORF. This is our
  third in-person meeting, counting the Chile
  symposium.
• This is an exciting time for CORF. Looking back
  over the year, I find there are three major areas
  in which we are currently active or need to be
  active in the near future
• 1. WRC-12 views document With the delay of the
  WRC from '11 to '12, we fortunately have the
  opportunity for our views document to have an
  impact. Most of our meeting this weekend will be
  dedicated to preparing the Request-for-Information
  and preparing the way for the Views Committee to
  produce the document.
• 2. "CORF of the Americas" The major outcome of
  the Chile meeting was the clear interest in a
  pan-American science advisory committee. This
  interest comes in large part from the RAS
  community, however, there is likely opportunity
  for EESS as well. We will be working in the
  future towards this goal.

15
Chairs Remarks at Fall 2009 Meeting (2 of 2)

• 3. Changing how scientific spectrum is used We
  are seeing, both from the soon-to-be-released
  spectrum study (which we will hear of the outcome
  today) and in the review comments of our FCC
  filings, a need to change our approach to science
  spectrum usage and policy. I'm convinced if we
  keep the status-quo, some day we will not be able
  to access, for example, the 1400 MHz allocation.
  It might take 20, 50, or 100 years, but it is
  clear that we need revolutionize our process. No
  doubt, this process will be lengthy, but now is
  the time to act. Because we represent EESS and
  RAS within one committee, CORF is in a unique
  position to take leadership on this within the
  U.S.
•  
• Jeffrey Piepmeier, Chair
• Committee on Radio Frequencies

16
Spectrum Management for Science in the 21st
Century

• Published by The National Academies in February
  2010.
• Covers EESS, RAS, and new technologies
• that may motivate future new approaches to
• spectrum management.
• Chapters
• Introduction
• The Earth Exploration-Satellite Service
• The Radio Astronomy Service
• Technology and Opportunities for the Mitigation
  of Radio Frequency Interference
• Findings and Recommendations
• PDF is available for free download at
  http//www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id12800

17
Spectrum Management for Science in the 21st
Century Briefings

• White House Office of Science Technology Policy
• Congressional Staff
• FCC
• NTIA
• NASA
• NSF
• NOAA
• NPOESS (now IPSS)
• Most were very successfulFCC NTIA had a more
  tempered reception

18
Future CORF Activities

• Views on the WRC-12 to be released July 1, 2010
• Visit to FCC staff and commissioners
• Continued fall and spring meetings
• Will likely continue to hold session for
  international dialogue at spring meetings
• Next CORF pan-American colloquium under
  discussion

19
Please Visit the CORF Web Site at its new
address http//sites.nationalacademies.org/BPA/BP
A_048819