[Federal Register: December 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 76002-76003]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de08-31]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Docket No. 0811251523-81524-01
Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed Pilot Program
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce
ACTION: Notice, Request for Comments
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice describes and seeks comment on the types and depth
of testing that the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) intends to conduct in Phase I of the Spectrum
Sharing Innovation Test-Bed pilot program to assess whether devices
employing Dynamic Spectrum Access techniques can share the frequency
spectrum with land mobile radio systems.
DATES: Comments are due on or before December 30, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the attention of Ed Drocella,
Office of Spectrum Management, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room
6725, Washington DC, 20230; by facsimile transmission to (202) 482-
4595; or by electronic mail to testbed@ntia.doc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Drocella at 202-482-2608 or
edrocella@ntia.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
One of the recommendations in the Department of Commerce reports
for the Presidential Spectrum Policy Initiative directed NTIA, in
coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other
Federal agencies, to establish a Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed
(Test-Bed) pilot program to examine the feasibility of increased
sharing between Federal and non-Federal users. This pilot program is
one of the key elements of the President's 21st Century Spectrum Policy
Initiative and is an opportunity for Federal agencies to work
cooperatively with industry, researchers, and academia to objectively
evaluate new technologies that can improve management of the nation's
airwaves.
On February 5, 2008, NTIA published a Notice in the Federal
Register describing the Test-Bed pilot program.\1\ Concurrently, the
FCC released a Public
[[Page 76003]]
Notice (PN) designating 10 MHz of non-Federal spectrum to be used in
the Test-Bed pilot program and providing guidance for participants.\2\
As described in the Notice and the PN, the Test-Bed pilot program will
evaluate the ability of Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) devices employing
spectrum sensing and/or geo-location techniques to share spectrum with
land mobile radio (LMR) systems operating in the 410-420 MHz Federal
band and in the 470-512 MHz non-Federal band.\3\ To address potential
interference to incumbent spectrum users, the Test-Bed will include
both laboratory and field measurements performed in three phases:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Spectrum Sharing Test-Bed, 73 Fed. Reg. 6,710 (NTIA February
5, 2008) (notice of solicitation of participation).
\2\ See Federal Communications Commission Designates Spectrum
and Provides Guidance For Participation in a Spectrum Sharing
Innovation Test-Bed, Public Notice, ET Docket No. 06-89, 23 FCC Rcd.
1654 (Feb. 5, 2008).
\3\ Dynamic Spectrum Access technology allows a radio device to
(i) evaluate its radio frequency environment using spectrum sensing,
geo-location, or a combination of spectrum sensing and geo-location
techniques, (ii) determine which frequencies are available for use
on a non-interference basis, and (iii) reconfigure itself to operate
on the identified frequencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phase I Equipment Characterization. Equipment employing DSA
techniques will be sent to the NTIA Institute for Telecommunication
Sciences in Boulder, Colorado to undergo characterization measurements
of the DSA capabilities in response to simulated environmental signals.
Phase II Evaluation of Capabilities. After successful completion
of Phase I, the DSA spectrum sensing and/or geo-location capabilities
of the equipment will be evaluated in the geographic area of the Test-
Bed.
Phase III Field Operation Evaluation. After successful completion
of Phase II, the DSA equipment will be permitted to transmit in an
actual radio frequency signal environment. An automatic signal logging
capability will be used during operation of the Test-Bed to help
resolve interference events if they occur. A point-of-contact will also
be established to stop Test-Bed operations if interference is reported.
Eleven parties submitted solicitations of interest to participate
in the Test-Bed pilot program. As a result of selection criteria
specified in the February 2008 Federal Register Notice, the following
parties were selected to participate in the Test-Bed pilot program:
Adapt4 LLC, Adaptrum Inc., BAE Systems, Motorola Inc., Shared Spectrum
Company, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Additional information on the Test-Bed pilot program is
available at the following website: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/
ntiahome/frnotices/2006/ spectrumshare/comments.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Request for Comments
As discussed in the February 2008 Federal Register Notice, a peer
review process will be employed to give the public an opportunity to
participate in the development of test plans for the Test-Bed pilot
program.\5\ A copy of the draft Phase I test plan is available in HTML,
Word, and PDF formats on the following website:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ There are certain limitations on the peer review process to
take into account the proprietary rights of the developers
participating in the Test-Bed. As part of the Test-Bed, NTIA may
enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements or Joint
Project Agreements with the equipment developers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/ frnotices/2006/spectrumshare/
comments.htm.
On or before December 30, 2008, interested parties wishing to
comment on the draft Phase I test plan should submit to the address set
forth above, their name, address, phone number, e-mail address and
their comments. NTIA will publish the final version of the Phase I test
plan on its website.
Dated: December 10, 2008.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-29631 Filed 12-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S