ITS Research on Spectrum Engineering Showcased at IEEE

NTIA serves a critical role in ensuring the most effective and efficient use of spectrum across the federal government. With a focus on working toward a coordinated, national approach to spectrum use, promoting evidence-based approaches to spectrum allocation is a critical endeavor. Much effort is currently focused on spectrum sharing. NTIA's research laboratory, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), is bringing needed clarity to the challenge through its specialized engineering studies known as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) studies.

Specialized engineering studies assess the ability of wireless telecommunications systems, in particular emerging wireless technologies such as 5G, to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment. If multiple systems are operating in the same or adjacent spectrum, EMC studies can determine whether they all function for their intended purposes or will cause unacceptable interference and performance degradation.

As a leading expert in the essential EMC engineering disciplines - spectrum measurements, spectrum propagation modeling, and interference analysis - ITS performs EMC studies to support NTIA's Office of Spectrum Management and inform spectrum sharing policy and regulation as well as to answer EMC questions posed by other federal agencies.

On August 2, at the 2022 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Signal & Power Integrity, one of the oldest and largest conferences of its kind, ITS Electronic Engineer Dr. Bob Johnk co-chaired a special session on "Critical Challenges and Solutions in Spectrum Engineering" with Dr. Sarah Seguin of The Aerospace Corporation. This special session dove deeply into current research on ways to prevent interference and promote efficient spectrum use through technology- and operational-based approaches.

ITS authored four of the seven accepted papers for this session. The reports describe recent research efforts aimed at developing well-informed and accurate electromagnetic compatibility models to insure optimal and trouble-free use of the radio spectrum. This work is just one way that ITS is informing spectrum and communications policy for the benefit of all stakeholders. For more details on this research, visit ITS' website.