National Spectrum Research and Development Plan

NATIONAL SPECTRUM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

(October 9, 2024)

This National Spectrum Research and Development Plan identifies key innovation areas for spectrum research as directed under Pillar 3 of the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS – November 2023): “Unprecedented Spectrum Innovation, Access, and Management through Technology Development” objective 3.2: “Commit to improving collective understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum through coordinated, focused, and sophisticated research and development (R&D)”. This Plan reflects recommendations from federal stakeholders and responses from industry, academia and the public to a Request for Information published in February 2024. This Plan was informed by public input from U.S. universities, companies and industry trade organizations submitted in response to a public Request for Information. Federal agency inputs were gathered through the WSRD IWG of the National Information Technology R&D (NITRD) Program. This Plan will be revised and updated on a periodic basis. Revisions to this Plan will include stakeholder consultation via the collaborative framework mandated by the National Spectrum Strategy.

89-FR-12871

PUBLIC INPUT TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL SPECTRUM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

(April 29, 2024)

Pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum on Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy, November 13, 2023, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), released a National Spectrum Strategy (Strategy), November 13, 2023. The word “spectrum” in this context refers to the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Strategic Objective 3.2 of the Strategy directs the U.S. Government, through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and in coordination with the Federal agencies, to develop a National Spectrum Research and Development Plan (R&D Plan). On behalf of OSTP, NITRD NCO sought public input for the creation of the R&D Plan. The RFI was published in the Federal Register on February 20, 2024 (89 FR 12871). The R&D Plan will act as an organizing national document, providing guidance for government investments in spectrum-related research and offering valuable insights. The R&D Plan will identify key innovation areas for spectrum research and development and will include a process to refine and enhance these areas on an ongoing basis.

89-FR-27461

Notice of NITRD Workshop on the National Spectrum Research and Development Plan

(April 17, 2024)

As directed in the recent National Spectrum Strategy, the NITRD Wireless Spectrum R&D Interagency Working Group (WSRD IWG) is working on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop the National Spectrum R&D Plan. This workshop is an opportunity for academia, industry, and the public to engage in dialog with the WSRD IWG authors on the potential content of that plan. Agencies of the WSRD IWG are conducting a workshop as a follow-up to the recent Request for Information (RFI) on the National Spectrum Research and Development Plan in which the NITRD NCO sought public input for the creation of the National Spectrum R&D Plan. The R&D Plan will act as an organizing national document, providing guidance for government investments in spectrum-related research and offering valuable insights. The Plan will identify key innovation areas for spectrum research and development and will include a process to refine and enhance these areas on an ongoing basis. This workshop will provide an opportunity for the RFI respondents and others from academia, industry, and the public to engage in open dialog with the spectrum community and WSRD IWG authors on the potential content of the National Spectrum R&D Plan.

89-FR-12871

Request for Information on the National Spectrum Research and Development Plan

(February 21, 2024)

Pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum on Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy, November 13, 2023, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), released a National Spectrum Strategy (Strategy), November 13, 2023. The word “spectrum” in this context refers to the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Strategic Objective 3.2 of the Strategy directs the U.S. Government, through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and in coordination with the Federal agencies, to develop a National Spectrum Research and Development Plan (R&D Plan). On behalf of OSTP, NITRD NCO seeks public input for the creation of the R&D Plan. The R&D Plan will act as an organizing national document, providing guidance for government investments in spectrum-related research and offering valuable insights. The R&D Plan will identify key innovation areas for spectrum research and development and will include a process to refine and enhance these areas on an ongoing basis.

WSRD-Spectrum-Security-WorkshopSummary-2019-slide

SECURITY FROM A WIRELESS SPECTRUM PERSPECTIVE: TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND POLICY RESEARCH NEEDS

(September 30, 2019)

Communications over the wireless medium pose security threats that are yet to be fully understood. It is currently possible for attackers that are within the wireless range to hijack or intercept an unprotected connection without being detected. With the advent of sophisticated cognitive radios and wireless devices, and applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, small satellites, driverless cars, and wireless healthcare devices, security threats to wireless mobile communications systems are rapidly increasing. As 5G, low-power wide area networks, and other emerging systems are deployed, innovative protective technologies and policies are needed.

Wireless Spectrum

WIRELESS SPECTRUM: RADIO RECEIVER SYSTEMS

(July 13, 2018)

On May 5, 2017, the WSRD IWG held a workshop, Radio Receiver Systems: R&D Innovation Needs and Impacts on Technology and Policy. At this workshop, Federal, private, and academic stakeholders discussed their individual views regarding the need for innovation in radio receiver systems.