[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6710-6711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2050]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 080129095-8096-01]


Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed

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

ACTION:  Notice of Solicitation of Participation

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SUMMARY:  On June 8, 2006, the Department of Commerce's National 
Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) published a 
Notice of Inquiry in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the 
implementation of the Presidential Spectrum Policy Initiative Spectrum 
Sharing Innovation Test-Bed (Test-Bed). This Notice of Solicitation of 
Participation seeks expressions of interest from parties that may be 
willing to participate in the Test-Bed.

DATES:  Expressions of interest are due on or before February 29, 2008.

ADDRESSES:  Expressions of interest 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 [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ed Drocella at (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 21st Century.\1\ 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.\2\ Based on 
the recommendations contained in these reports, the President directed 
the federal agencies on November 30, 2004, to plan the implementation 
of the recommendations contained in the reports.\3\
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    \1\ Presidential Memorandum on Spectrum Policy for the 21\st\ 
Century, 69 FR 1568 (Jan. 9, 2004), 39 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 726, 
727 (May 29, 2003), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030605-4.html.
    \2\ Department of Commerce, Spectrum Policy for the 21\st\ 
Century - The President's Spectrum Policy Initiative: Report 1 
Recommendations of the Federal Government Spectrum Task Force (June 
2004) (``Report 1''); Department of Commerce, Spectrum Policy for 
the 21st Century - The President's Spectrum Policy Initiative: 
Report 2 Recommendations From State and Local Governments and 
Private Sector Responders (June 2004) (``Report 2''). These reports 
are available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/.
    \3\ President's Memorandum on Improving Spectrum Management for 
the 21\st\ Century, 49 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 2875 (Nov. 29, 2004).
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    One of these recommendations stated that NTIA and the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC), in coordination with the federal 
agencies are to establish a Test-Bed to examine the feasibility of 
increased sharing between federal and non-federal users.\4\ 
Specifically, the Test-Bed recommendation states:
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    \4\ By this Notice, NTIA is implementing its responsibilities 
under the President's November 2004 Executive Memorandum. The FCC is 
also designating spectrum and establishing procedures for the Test-
Bed through a public notice. Public Notice, Federal Communications 
Commission Designates Spectrum and Provides Guidance for 
Participation in 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.\5\
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    \5\ Report 1, supra note 2, Recommendation 11; Report 2, supra 
note 2, Recommendation 6(b).
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    The recommendation to establish the Test-Bed recognized that the 
increased use of spectrum for federal and non-federal communications 
necessitates increased sharing to benefit both federal and non-federal 
users of the spectrum.
    On June 8, 2006, NTIA published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in the 
Federal Register seeking public comment on issues related to the Test-
Bed.\6\ The FCC also solicited public comment on issues related to the 
Test-Bed through a

[[Page 6711]]

separate Public Notice (PN).\7\ There were 14 comments filed in 
response to the NOI and 16 comments and 9 reply comments filed in 
response to the PN.\8\ In addition, the public comments were reviewed 
by the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC), which 
was established as part the Presidential Spectrum Policy Initiative to 
advise the Assistant Secretary of Communications and Information, 
Department of Commerce, on needed reforms to spectrum policies and 
management to enable the introduction of new spectrum dependent 
technologies and services.\9\ NTIA also sought comments from the 
Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC).\10\ The public 
responses to the NTIA NOI and FCC PN as well as the comments provided 
by the CSMAC and the IRAC were used to develop the federal portion of 
the Test-Bed described below.
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    \6\ National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Docket, No. 060602142-6142-01,Notice of Inquiry, 71 FR 33282 (June 
8, 2006).
    \7\ Federal Communications Commission, ET Docket No. 06-89, FCC 
06-77, Creation of a Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed, 71 FR 
35675 (June 21, 2006).
    \8\ The complete public comments filed in response to the NOI 
are available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov. The complete public 
comments and reply comments filed in response to the PN are 
available on the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ET Docket No. 
06-89).
    \9\ Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee Report: 
Opportunities Relating to the Spectrum Sharing Test Bed, available 
at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports/2007/CSMAC_TestBed_Report.pdf.
    \10\ The IRAC, consisting of representatives of 20 federal 
agencies, serves in an advisory capacity to the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Communications and Information. The IRAC assists the 
Assistant Secretary in the discharge of responsibilities pertaining 
to the use of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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II. Test-Bed Description

    Test-Bed Goal: To objectively evaluate new technologies to 
facilitate sharing between federal and non-federal spectrum users. If 
sharing is successfully demonstrated, the results of the Test-Bed can 
be used as the basis to establish service rules for the technologies 
that have operated in the Test-Bed frequency bands.\11\
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    \11\ The subsequent designation of bands where the technologies 
might be authorized to operate on a permanent basis would be the 
subject of a separate rulemaking.
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    Number of Simultaneously Operating Test-Beds: One.
    Test-Bed Technology: Equipment employing Dynamic Spectrum Access 
(DSA) technology.\12\
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    \12\ 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.
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    Test-Bed Frequency Band: 410-420 MHz.
    Authorization of Test-Bed Operations: FCC Part 5 Experimental Radio 
Service Rules.
    Limitations on Test-Bed Operations: Frequency and/or geographic 
limitations may be identified as necessary.
    Protection of Incumbent Spectrum Users: To address potential 
interference to incumbent spectrum users the Test-Bed employing DSA 
equipment will be performed in three phases:
    Phase 1 - Equipment Characterization. Equipment employing DSA 
techniques will be sent to the NTIA Institute for Telecommunication 
Sciences in Boulder, Colorado and characterization measurements of the 
DSA capabilities in response to simulated environmental signals will be 
performed.
    Phase 2 - Evaluation of Capabilities. After successful completion 
of Phase 1, the DSA capabilities of the equipment in the geographic 
area of the Test-Bed will be evaluated.
    Phase 3 - Field Operation Evaluation. After successful completion 
of Phase 2, the DSA equipment will be permitted to transmit in an 
actual radio frequency signal environment. An automatic signal logging 
capability will be used during the 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.
    Planning and Evaluation of Test-Bed: A flexible peer review process 
open to the public will be employed.\13\ Federal and non-federal users 
will have an opportunity to participate in the development of test 
plans, review status reports, and review the final report on the 
results of the Test-Bed.
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    \13\ There may be 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.
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III. Expressions of Interest

    The following criteria will be used to evaluate the DSA 
technologies proposed for the Test-Bed:\14\
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    \14\ The NTIA NOI proposed these criteria to evaluate the Test-
Bed technologies and they are adopted as evaluation criteria herein.
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    How well does the proposed technology achieve the goal of the Test-
Bed?
    How readily available is the equipment proposed for the Test-Bed?
    How well does the proposed technology explore creative and original 
concepts in spectrum sharing?
    For the proposed technology, can the results of the Test-Bed be 
disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technologic 
understanding?
    How well does the proposed technology address the potential impact 
on the incumbent spectrum user(s)?
    Can the proposed technology be adapted for a variety of services 
and applications, including broadband, military/homeland security, and 
public safety?
    Are there any technical factors that limit the proposed technology 
to a specific frequency range?
    Will the necessary technical support be provided to assure 
performance of the equipment during the Test-Bed?
    On or before February 29, 2008, interested parties wishing to 
participate in the Test-Bed should submit to the address set forth 
above, their name, address, phone number, e-mail address and a short 
description of the DSA technology. After receiving all submissions, 
NTIA may contact any party that submitted an expression of interest to 
follow-up on how its DSA technology would meet the above evaluation 
criteria. NTIA will send via U.S. mail a letter to the selected Test-
Bed participants. NTIA will also publish a list of all Test-Bed 
participants on its website.

    Dated: January 30, 2008.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-2050 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
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