The Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee IRAC Karl B

The Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) Karl B. Nebbia Associate Administrator Office of Spectrum Management National Telecommunications and Information Administration (202)-482 -0536 knebbia@ntia. doc. gov

• What is the IRAC? • Who Participates? • What are its primary components? • How does the IRAC operate?

What is the IRAC? • IRAC is an ADVISORY committee that provides to NTIA the views of the federal agency spectrum managers • Existed since 1922 • Work is considered executive branch pre-decisional and not releasable • IRAC Subcommittees – general areas • Ad Hoc groups – individual topics • A collegial body - almost all work by consensus • Experienced spectrum management professionals

Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee U. S. Postal Service Air Force BBG VA DHS Transportation State Energy Navy Chairman (NTIA) FCC (Liaison) NASA NSF Agriculture Commerce Interior Justice Army Coast Treasury Guard FAA

NTIA/FCC MOU • A/S and FCC Chairman to meet • NTIA/OSM and FCC Office of Engineering & Technology meet • 15 day turnaround to comment on each other’s actions • No veto authority over each other’s decisions

IRAC (MAIN COMMITTEE) ACTIVITY • Most activity has been in response to FCC actions – Rulemakings – Petitions for rule changes or waivers • Allocations resulting from WRCs • Changes to the NTIA Manual – Process – Policies

FCC/NTIA Administrative Procedures Document & Input Flow Public Comments (~60 -120 days) & Reply Comments (~30 days) NOI NPRM Public Petition For Recon R&O MO&O FNPRM D *I D N IRAC T IRAC Agencies *I D I *I D *I A Other Agencies D – Draft I - Input

IRAC Chaired By SECRETARIAT NTIA SSS SPACE SYSTEMS SUBCOMMITTEE FAS FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE RCS RADIO CONFERENCE SUBCOMMITTEE SPS TSC TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE SPECTRUM PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE Ad Hoc GROUPS 170 – Mexico 181 – Canada 206 – WRC Implementation 213 – Management 214 – Public Safety EPS EMERGENCY PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE

IRAC STRUCTURE • Main Committee – policy and committee management (Eddie Davison edavison@ntia. doc. gov 482 -5526) • Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS) – coordination of assignments (Tom Woods twoods@ntia. doc. gov 482 -2802) • Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS) – review of new federal systems (Steve Butcher sbutcher@ntia. doc. gov 482 -4163) • Space Systems Subcommittee (SSS) – satellite coordination (Scott Kotler skotler@ntia. doc. gov 482 -7983) • Emergency Planning Subcommittee (EPS) – emergency planning and readiness (Steve Veader sveader@ntia. doc. gov 482 -4417) • Technical Subcommittee (TSC) – standards (Ed Drocella edrocella@ntia. doc. gov 482 -2068) • Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS) – WRC preparation (Darlene Drazenovich ddrazenovich@ntia. doc. gov 482 -3480) • Ad Hoc Groups

SPS and SPECTRUM CERTIFICATION • PURPOSE: To evaluate and mitigate risk in the development and deployment of Federal spectrum-dependent radiocommunications systems • DIRECTION: Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11 requires NTIA certification of spectrum support for major systems prior to expenditure of funds • PROCESS: Spectrum Planning Subcommittee reviews certification requests -Engineering support provided by Systems Review Branch of NTIA o Systems are evaluated for conformance with frequency allocations, adherence to technical standards, compliance with policy applicable to Federal systems o Potential electromagnetic compatibility problems are identified and interference mitigation strategies are developed • OUTCOME: Certification provides guidance to developers and operators of systems, based upon SPS advice to NTIA regarding technical and operating constraints needed to mitigate interference risk • TIMELINE: Typically requires 2 -4 months to process routine requests – complex reviews often take longer • • Similar in some ways to FCC “Equipment Authorization” process FCC participates in the review process through a liaison representative that attends monthly meetings of the subcommittee

FAS and Frequency Assignment • PURPOSE: Assign frequencies to, and amend, modify, and revoke frequency assignments for radio stations belonging to and operated by United States, establish policies concerning spectrum assignment and provide agencies with guidance. • PROCESS: Frequency Assignment Subcommittee reviews radio frequency requests for both federal agencies and shared bands with the FCC. o Performs Interference analysis, evaluates for conformance with frequency allocations, and compliance with policy o Process 350 -400 applications per day of which about 8500 are FCC in a year. • TIMELINE: Typically records are approved by the NTIA in 9 workdays Special Temporary Assignments are approved in 5 workdays • WEBSITES: NTIA posts status of FCC request during processing on http: //ntiacsd. ntia. doc. gov/webcoord/status. cfm NTIA post status of FAA coordination of FCC request on http: //ntiacsd. ntia. doc. gov/webcoord/fcc_faa. cfm • FCC participates in the review process as a representative that attends monthly meetings of the subcommittee. The FAS process is similar to the FCC ULS and OET process.