[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33282-33284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8874]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 060602142-6142-01]


The President's Spectrum Policy Initiative Spectrum Sharing 
Innovation Test-Bed

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce

ACTION: Notice of Inquiry.

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SUMMARY: The reports developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 
response to the President's Spectrum Policy Initiative included a 
recommendation that the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 
develop a plan to increase sharing of spectrum between Federal and non-
Federal users which includes evaluation of technologies that are 
proposed to enhance sharing.\1\ This Notice seeks public comment to 
address the implementation of the Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed 
(Test-Bed) where Federal and non-Federal users can study the 
feasibility of increasing the efficient use of the spectrum.
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    \1\ Spectrum Policy for the 21\st\ Century -- The President's 
Spectrum Policy Initiative: Report 1 Recommendations of the Federal 
Government Spectrum Task Force and Spectrum Policy for the 21\st\ 
Century -- The President's Spectrum Policy Initiative: Report 2 
Recommendations From State and Local Governments and Private Sector 
Responders, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (June 2004), available 
at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/.

DATES: Written comments and papers in response to this Notice are 
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requested to be submitted on or before July 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two copies of written comments to the 
Office of the Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4713, Attention: Spectrum Sharing 
Innovation Test-Bed Notice, Washington, DC 20230. Paper submissions 
should include a three and one-half inch computer diskette in HTML, 
ASCII, Word, or WordPerfect format (please specify version). Diskettes 
should be labeled with the name and organizational affiliation of the 
filer, and the name of the word processing program used to create the 
document. Alternatively, comments and papers may be submitted 
electronically to [email protected]. Comments submitted via 
electronic mail also should be submitted in one or more of the formats 
specified above. Comments submitted in response to this Notice will be 
posted on NTIA's Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice, 
contact: Edward Drocella, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Room 6725, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-2608, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In May 2003, President Bush established the Spectrum Policy 
Initiative to promote the development and implementation of a United 
States spectrum policy for the 21\st\ century. In response to the 
Spectrum Policy Initiative, the Secretary of Commerce established a 
Federal Government Spectrum Task Force and initiated a series of public 
meetings to address policies affecting spectrum use by the Federal, 
state, and local governments, and the private sector. The 
recommendations resulting from these activities were included in two 
reports released by the Secretary of Commerce in June 2004 (Commerce 
Reports). Based on the recommendations contained in these reports, the 
President directed the federal agencies on November 30, 2004, to plan 
the implementation of the

[[Page 33283]]

recommendations contained in the reports.\2\
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    \2\ White House Executive Memorandum, Improving Spectrum 
Management for the 21\st\ Century (November 2004).
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    One of the recommendations directed NTIA, in coordination with the 
FCC, to establish a Test-Bed to examine the feasibility of increased 
sharing between Federal and non-Federal users.\3\ Specifically, the 
Test-Bed recommendation states:
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    \3\ By this Notice of Inquiry, NTIA is implementing its 
responsibilities under the President's November 2004 Executive 
Memorandum. The FCC is also soliciting comment on many of these same 
issues through a public notice. Public Notice, Federal 
Communications Commission Seeks Public Comment on Creation of a 
Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed, ET Docket No. 06-89.
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    Within two years of this report's publication, NTIA and the FCC 
should establish a pilot program to allow for increased sharing between 
Federal and non-Federal users. NTIA and the FCC should each identify a 
segment of spectrum of equal bandwidth within their respective 
jurisdiction for this program. Each segment should be approximately 10 
MHz for assignment on a shared basis for Federal and non-Federal use. 
The spectrum to be identified for this pilot program could come from 
bands currently allocated on either an exclusive or shared basis. Two 
years after the inception of the pilot program, NTIA and the FCC should 
provide reports outlining the results and suggesting appropriate 
procedures for expanding the program as appropriate.
    The recommendation to establish the Test-Bed recognized that the 
current use of spectrum for Federal and non-Federal communications 
necessitates increased sharing to benefit both Federal and non-Federal 
users of the spectrum. Establishment of the objectives, rules, 
guidelines, and responsibilities for the Test-Bed will be essential to 
the success of this sharing effort and will be vital to the 
consideration of any future follow-on sharing initiatives.
    Examples of technologies/services that could be considered in the 
Test-Bed include: High-power broadband, public safety interoperability, 
adaptive technologies (geo-location, frequency avoidance, waveform 
detection), advanced antenna technologies, sharing between Federal and 
non-Federal mobile satellite systems, advanced modulation techniques, 
multiple input/multiple output systems, extensions to third generation 
wireless services for public safety and federal users, mobile mesh 
networking, and geographic sharing. The Test-Bed may also be used to 
evaluate new frequency assignment/coordination techniques such as the 
web-based capability in the 70/80/90 GHz bands or sharing using the 
interference temperature concept.\4\
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    \4\ As part of the President's Initiative to streamline U.S. 
spectrum policy, fiber-speed wireless communications links in the 
71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz, 92-94 GHz and 94.1-95 GHz bands may now be 
coordinated and approved for non-Federal use in a manner of minutes 
using a web-based capability developed by NTIA. The public may 
access the automated system at the following webpage: http://freqcoord.ntia.doc.gov.
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II. Invitation to Comment

    Establishment of the objectives, rules, guidelines, and 
responsibilities will be essential to the success of the Test-Bed. The 
questions related to the Test-Bed will be divided into five categories: 
(A) Identification of the technologies/services to be considered in the 
Test-Bed; (B) establishment of the process, principles, and guidelines 
governing the Test-Bed; (C) identification of the candidate frequency 
band(s) for the Test-Bed; (D) activation/termination of the Test-Bed; 
and (E) evaluation of the Test-Bed.
    In conjunction with providing information for consideration by 
NTIA, interested parties are requested to address the following 
questions and file comments that will assist NTIA in implementing a 
Test-Bed that will benefit both Federal and non-Federal users. 
Commenters may include any other issue that is relevant to the areas 
outlined below and should provide copies of studies, reports, research 
or other empirical data referenced in their responses. Comments will be 
posted on NTIA's Web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov. These questions 
are intended to promote discussion and comment across a range of issues 
and are not intended to limit the scope of the comments filed in 
response to this Notice.
A. Identification of Technologies/Services Considered in the Test-Bed
    What technologies, services, assignment techniques, or sharing 
techniques should be implemented in the Test-Bed?
    What relationships should the technologies, services, assignment 
techniques, or sharing techniques have with the candidate frequency 
band(s) identified for the Test-Bed?
    Should the Test-Bed be limited to prototype/operational equipment 
or can hardware simulation also be employed? If simulation can be 
employed, explain the conditions under which it is appropriate.
    How does the proposed technology or service achieve the goal of the 
Test-Bed (e.g., increase sharing)? Please provide a detailed 
description explaining how the proposed technology or service increases 
sharing with other radio services.
B. Identification of the Candidate Frequency Band(s) for the Test-Bed
    The Test-Bed recommendation included in the Commerce Reports called 
for approximately 20 MHz to be dedicated to the Test-Bed. How much 
spectrum should be identified for the Test-Bed?
    What candidate frequency band(s) should be used in the Test-Bed? 
What criteria should be used in identifying candidate frequency band(s) 
for the Test-Bed? Please provide supporting information for frequency 
band(s) selected.
    What limitations should apply to the candidate frequency band(s) 
identified for the Test-Bed (e.g., geographic, power, antenna gain, 
time of day, etc.)?
    What steps should be taken to protect incumbent users in the 
candidate frequency bands? Should an initial electromagnetic 
compatibility analysis (e.g., computer simulations) be performed to 
develop the operating conditions for the Test-Bed (e.g., limits on 
radiated power levels, restrictions on antenna, geographic 
limitations)?
C. Establishment of the Process, Principles, and Guidelines Governing 
the Test-Bed
    What resources (including the equipment to be evaluated in the 
Test-Bed), funding, personnel, or test facilities are necessary for the 
Test-Bed?
    How should the process, principles, and guidelines for the Test-Bed 
be specified (e.g., Cooperative Research and Development Agreement 
(CRADA), FCC Experimental License)?
    What information should be included in the controlling document 
(e.g., CRADA or FCC Experimental License) for the Test-Bed? How should 
the terms and conditions be specified for the Test-Bed (e.g., general, 
band-by-band)?
    What procedures should be defined for resolving conflicts that 
might arise between operational incumbents and the technologies/
services implemented in the Test-Bed?
    At the completion of the Test-Bed, what should happen to the 
technology/service that is operating in the candidate frequency band? 
Should the technology/service be permitted to continue operating on a 
permanent basis and new spectrum identified for the next Test-Bed? If 
the technology/service is shown to be compatible, should a procedure be 
developed to find a permanent frequency band?
    Under what circumstances should the initial conditions of the Test-
Bed be modified (e.g., spectrum resources

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increased, locations expanded, time-frame increased)?
    Who should be responsible for providing the test personnel and 
equipment for the Test-Bed?
    Should organizations with proprietary technology or information be 
permitted to participate in the Test-Bed? If so, how should release of 
data based on their technology be handled?
D. Activation/Termination of the Test-Bed
    Should computer simulations be performed before the Test-Bed is 
activated?
    Should a test plan be developed and agreed to by all parties before 
the Test-Bed is activated? If so, who should be responsible for 
developing the test plan? What process should be used to review the 
test plan?
    Under what conditions should the Test-Bed be terminated (e.g., 
problems with equipment)?
E. Evaluation of the Test-Bed
    What metrics should be used in evaluating the results of the Test-
Bed?
    Should status reports be prepared throughout the duration of the 
Test-Bed (e.g., 6 months)?
    Who should be responsible for analyzing the data from the Test-Bed 
and preparing the final report?

III. Selection Criteria for Test-Bed

    The following criteria are being proposed to evaluate and select 
the proposed technology or service to be implemented in the Test-Bed. 
Comments are requested on the proposed Test-Bed selection criteria.
    How well does the proposed technology or service achieve the goal 
of the Test-Bed?
    How readily available is the equipment proposed for the Test-Bed?
    How well does the proposed technology or service explore creative 
and original concepts in spectrum sharing?
    For the proposed technology or service can the results of the Test-
Bed be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technologic 
understanding? If so, how broadly can the results be applied?
    How well does the proposed technology or service address the 
potential impact on the incumbent spectrum user(s)?
    How much and in what ways does the proposed technology or service 
benefit the public?
    Are there any technical factors that limit the proposed technology 
or service to a specific frequency range?
    Will the necessary technical support be provided to assure 
performance of the equipment during the Test-Bed? If so, how sufficient 
is the proposed support?

    Dated: June 2, 2006.
Milton E. Brown,
Acting Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-8874 Filed 6-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S