[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 18793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7373]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 120322212-2212-01]


Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed Pilot Program

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

ACTION: Notice, request for comments.

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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 II/III 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 April 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the attention of Ed Drocella, 
Office of Spectrum Management, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 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

    NTIA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) and other federal agencies, established 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 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.
    The Test-Bed pilot program is evaluating 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.\1\ To address potential interference to incumbent 
spectrum users, the Test-Bed will include both laboratory and field 
measurements performed in three phases:
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    \1\ 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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    Phase I--Equipment Characterization. Participants will send 
equipment employing DSA techniques 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, NTIA will evaluate the DSA spectrum sensing and/or geo-
location capabilities of the equipment in the geographic area of the 
Test-Bed.
    Phase III--Field Operation Evaluation. After successful completion 
of Phase II, NTIA will permit the DSA equipment 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. NTIA and the participant 
will establish a point-of-contact to stop Test-Bed operations if 
interference is reported.
    NTIA published the Phase I test plan in the Federal Register for 
public review and comment in December 2008.\2\ NTIA addressed the 
public comments on the test plan and published a final version on the 
NTIA Web site in February 2009.\3\ The annual progress reports provide 
the status of the Phase I testing.\4\
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    \2\ Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-Bed Pilot Program, 73 FR 
76,002 (Dec. 15, 2008).
    \3\ The final Phase I test plan and additional information on 
the Test-Bed pilot program are available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/spectrum-sharing?page=1.
    \4\ The annual progress reports and additional information on 
the Test-Bed pilot program are available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/spectrum-sharing?page=1.
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II. Request for Comments

    NTIA has established a review process 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 II/III test plan 
is available in Word, and PDF formats on the following Web site: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/spectrum-sharing?page=1.
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    \5\ There are certain limitations on the public 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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    On or before April 27, 2012, interested parties wishing to comment 
on the draft Phase II/III test plan should submit to the address set 
forth above, their name, address, phone number, email address and their 
comments. NTIA seeks comments on the types and depth of testing that 
NTIA intends to conduct in Phase II/III 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. Comments will be posted on NTIA's Web 
site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/spectrum-sharing?page=1.
    NTIA will publish the final version of the Phase II/III test plan 
on its Web site.

    Dated: March 22, 2012.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-7373 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P