The Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) Karl B. Nebbia Associate Administrator Office of Spectrum Management National Telecommunications and Information Administration (202)

What is the IRAC? Who Participates? What are its primary components? How does the IRAC operate?

What is the IRAC? IRAC is an ADVISORY committee that provides to NTIA the views of the federal agency spectrum managers Existed since 1922 Work is considered executive branch pre-decisional and not releasable IRAC Subcommittees – general areas Ad Hoc groups – individual topics A collegial body - almost all work by consensus Experienced spectrum management professionals

Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee U.S. Postal Service Commerce VA BBG DHS Transportation State Energy Agriculture Navy FCC (Liaison) Air Force FAA Coast Guard Treasury Justice Interior NASA NSF Chairman (NTIA) Army

NTIA/FCC MOU A/S and FCC Chairman to meet NTIA/OSM and FCC Office of Engineering & Technology meet 15 day turnaround to comment on each other’s actions No veto authority over each other’s decisions

IRAC (MAIN COMMITTEE) ACTIVITY Most activity has been in response to FCC actions –Rulemakings –Petitions for rule changes or waivers Allocations resulting from WRCs Changes to the NTIA Manual –Process –Policies

FCC/NTIA Administrative Procedures Document & Input Flow NOINPRM FNPRM R&O Petition For Recon MO&O Public Comments (~60-120days) & Reply Comments (~30 days) Public D NT IA IRAC Agencies Other Agencies *I DDDDD D – Draft I - Input

IRAC NTIA Chaired By SPS SSS TSC RADIO CONFERENCE SUBCOMMITTEE TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE SPECTRUM PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE SPACE SYSTEMS SUBCOMMITTEE RCS FAS EPS EMERGENCY PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE Ad Hoc GROUPS 170 – Mexico 181 – Canada 206 – WRC Implementation 213 – Management 214 – Public Safety SECRETARIAT

Main Committee – policy and committee management (Eddie Davison Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS) – coordination of assignments (Tom Woods Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS) – review of new federal systems (Steve Butcher Space Systems Subcommittee (SSS) – satellite coordination (Scott Kotler Emergency Planning Subcommittee (EPS) – emergency planning and readiness (Steve Veader Technical Subcommittee (TSC) – standards (Ed Drocella ) Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS) – WRC preparation (Darlene Drazenovich Ad Hoc Groups IRAC STRUCTURE

PURPOSE: To evaluate and mitigate risk in the development and deployment of Federal spectrum-dependent radiocommunications systems DIRECTION: Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11 requires NTIA certification of spectrum support for major systems prior to expenditure of funds PROCESS: Spectrum Planning Subcommittee reviews certification requests -- Engineering support provided by Systems Review Branch of NTIA o Systems are evaluated for conformance with frequency allocations, adherence to technical standards, compliance with policy applicable to Federal systems o Potential electromagnetic compatibility problems are identified and interference mitigation strategies are developed OUTCOME: Certification provides guidance to developers and operators of systems, based upon SPS advice to NTIA regarding technical and operating constraints needed to mitigate interference risk TIMELINE: Typically requires 2-4 months to process routine requests – complex reviews often take longer Similar in some ways to FCC “Equipment Authorization” process FCC participates in the review process through a liaison representative that attends monthly meetings of the subcommittee SPS and SPECTRUM CERTIFICATION

PURPOSE: Assign frequencies to, and amend, modify, and revoke frequency assignments for radio stations belonging to and operated by United States, establish policies concerning spectrum assignment and provide agencies with guidance. PROCESS: Frequency Assignment Subcommittee reviews radio frequency requests for both federal agencies and shared bands with the FCC. o Performs Interference analysis, evaluates for conformance with frequency allocations, and compliance with policy o Process applications per day of which about 8500 are FCC in a year. TIMELINE: Typically records are approved by the NTIA in 9 workdays Special Temporary Assignments are approved in 5 workdays WEBSITES: NTIA posts status of FCC request during processing on NTIA post status of FAA coordination of FCC request on FCC participates in the review process as a representative that attends monthly meetings of the subcommittee. The FAS process is similar to the FCC ULS and OET process. FAS and Frequency Assignment