IP: Dynamic Spectrum

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
> [Note:  This item comes from reader Bill Lane.  DLH]
>
> At 10:50 -0700 10/26/01, William Lane wrote:
> > From: "William Lane" <WLANE () fcc gov>
> > To: <dewayne () dandin com>
> > Subject: Dynamic Spectrum
> > Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:50:25 -0700
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> >
> > Dewayne
> >
> > Did you see the following item from this morning's Comm Daily about 
> > dynamic spectrum efforts from DoD?
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > DoD DISCLOSES 4th GENERATION SPECTRUM EFFICIENCY R&D PLAN
> >
> >         In bid to meet needs for spectrum for 4th-generation wireless 
> > devices, Dept. of Defense (DoD) unveiled further details on development 
> > of its Next Generation (XG) communications program designed to produce 
> > advances in spectrum assignment technology for use in military and 
> > eventually in commercial environments. Developments in communications, 
> > information and transmission security are corollary goals of program, 
> > which is being administered jointly by Defense Advanced Research 
> > Projects Agency (DARPA) and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).
> >
> >         DARPA-AFRL said in Aug. (CD Aug 16 p3) that it would seek 
> > participation of both govt. and private sector entities. DoD agencies 
> > released formal announcement of program Thurs., and encouraged 
> > submission of letters of interest in XG through June 30, 2004. The 
> > effort "will require the involvement of a wide variety of government and 
> > commercial technology development centers" as well as support of govt. 
> > spectrum agencies such as FCC and Office of Spectrum Analysis & 
> > Management, DARPA-AFRL said. Those 2 entities "have been briefed and 
> > support the effort," Defense agencies said. An FCC official confirmed 
> > agency had participated in discussions with DARPA-AFRL. He said 
> > Commission would play role in planning workshops with Pentagon to 
> > discuss related spectrum-efficiency technology transfers to private 
> > sector. XG program's focus on development and promotion of that 
> > technology comports with FCC objectives in that area, he said. He 
> > emphasized that FCC wouldn't impose mandatory spectrum efficiency 
> > standards on industry. Rather, he said, it seeks to promote use of 
> > state-of-the-art technology to maximize use of increasingly scarce radio 
> > frequency assets.
> >
> >         Primary goal of project is "dynamic spectral use" that will 
> > bolster communications capabilities of U.S. forces, which currently face 
> > "unique spectrum access issues in each country in which they operate" 
> > due to competing govt. and civilian spectrum users. DoD said that 
> > situation placed constraints on operation of critical military 
> > communications systems since it affected military's ability "to fully 
> > exploit its superiority and investment in information technology." 
> > Increased efficiency in spectrum use would "provide a viable solution to 
> > commercial carriers' demands for additional spectrum" while helping 
> > military to maximize use of what DoD described as shrinking bandwidth: 
> > "Assured communications (currently limited by spectrum availability) 
> > will be the difference between success and failure in the modern 
> > battlespace. The need for higher and more complex data services... 
> > coupled with the explosion of the current wireless market... strain the 
> > current limits of military spectrum allocations both domestically and abroad."
> >
> >         Defense said it would strive to attain twentyfold increase in 
> > spectrum efficiency through XG. DARPA-AFRL anticipated creation of 
> > "common technical architecture" that would meet 4th generation spectrum 
> > needs of military and civilian systems, saying: "The advent of dynamic 
> > spectrum allocation will ameliorate the potential crisis for DoD 
> > spectrum availability for military and government systems. Dynamic 
> > spectrum allocation and control will require developments significantly 
> > beyond those taking place in the 3rd generation [3G] cellular world, 
> > taking the U.S. beyond [3G] and into the next generation following it."
> >
> > XG program's approach to building advanced spectrum redistribution system 
> > will be to develop:
> >
> > (1) "Theoretical underpinnings" for dynamic spectrum control.
> >
> > (2) Sub-systems and technologies that enable spectrum reallocation.
> >
> > (3) System prototypes that "demonstrate applicability to legacy and 
> > future DoD radio frequency emitters."
> >
> >         Agencies predicted that XG would have "significant impact" on 
> > areas such as: (1) Data-video links. (2) Commercial mobile wireless 
> > operations. (3) Ground and air tactical communications. (4) 
> > Unmanned-robotic vehicle operations. (5) "Radars of all types." 
> > Contractor funding for XG-related initiatives is expected to begin in FY 
> > 2002. Total funding will be $20 million, which will be disbursed via 
> > individual awards ranging from $200,000 to $750,000 annually. Awards 
> > could be in form of contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements.
> >
> > -Steve Peacock


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