United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-06-17 monographic deposited born digital 51 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-97-131 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131 P0b002ee1803a0d8f f:ns97131 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131 NSIAD-97-131 National defense operations Radio frequency allocation Interagency relations Privatization Telecommunication industry Defense capabilities Military training Defense contingency planning Defense economic analysis Telecommunication equipment Navy Cooperative Engagement Capability System DOD Joint Tactical Intelligence Dissemination System JCS Joint Vision 2010 DOD Joint Electromagnetic Compatibility Program DOD Operation Joint Endeavor Desert Storm Letter Report NSIAD GAO reviewed the transfer of certain frequency spectrum from the Navy's Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Program to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for reallocation to the private sector, focusing on whether: (1) the capabilities of the CEC program could be adversely affected by this transfer; (2) other systems could also be adversely affected by this transfer; and (3) the Department of Defense (DOD), FCC, and the Department of Commerce are taking appropriate and adequate steps to prevent or minimize such impairment. GAO also discussed potential actions that could more effectively achieve the intent of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to minimize negative impacts of frequency reallocation on the federal government.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) national security and cost implications of the federal frequency losses to CEC and other military systems were not fully considered in 1995 and have still not been adequately assessed; (2) the loss of the portion of the frequency spectrum used by CEC could reduce its capability in peacetime training operations and make it incapable of joint (multiservice) operations similar in size to Operation Desert Storm; (3) other current systems could be adversely affected by an increase in mutual interference problems; (4) in addition, new spectrum requirements for information warfare systems could suffer from a lack of needed frequency spectrum; (5) however, the full DOD-wide cost and operational impact from the frequency loss has not been established because spectrum management planning in DOD is fragmented and inadequate; (6) in some instances, prior National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) assessments of requirements and availability of frequency spectrum for transfer to the public could be incomplete because of security issues; (7) security classifications restrict release of pertinent technical information about many DOD programs; (8) as a result, transferred spectrum is threatened by potential interference problems; (9) DOD has cleared key NTIA, FCC, and other federal spectrum personnel to promote better spectrum planning; (10) however, GAO believes more effective and cooperative actions to exchange data and establish commercial standards can be taken by DOD, FCC, and Commerce, thus ensuring that sufficient frequency spectrum is available to operate major national security systems with minimal interference to, and by, commercial systems; and (11) the licensing of frequencies affecting CEC should not begin until DOD has completed an ongoing assessment of its total requirements and reported its finding to the Congress and the President. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131.pdf GAO/NSIAD-97-131 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-131 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-97-131; Defense Communications: Federal Frequency Spectrum Sale Could Impair Military Operations; National defense operations Radio frequency allocation Interagency relations Privatization Telecommunication industry Defense capabilities Military training Defense contingency planning Defense economic analysis Telecommunication equipment Navy Cooperative Engagement Capability System DOD Joint Tactical Intelligence Dissemination System JCS Joint Vision 2010 DOD Joint Electromagnetic Compatibility Program DOD Operation Joint Endeavor Desert Storm Conf. Rept. 97-765