What do smartphones, military and public-safety radios, wearable devices and smart vehicles have in common? They all 

depend on wireless spectrum to send data, voice and images. 

Increasing demand from these and countless other wireless 

applications are crowding the airwaves as the Internet of Things 

grows with more and more connected devices. New technologies are needed to ensure currently available spectrum and 

any new spectrum, namely in the millimeter wave, is used more 

efficiently; and that will require collaboration and coordination, 

as well as rigorous testing. These efforts also will support development of a seamless, broadband public safety communications 

network across the United States.

What NIST Does

Through its Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), NIST 

promotes the development and deployment of advanced communications technologies through research and development 

in both the metrology and understanding of physical phenomena, materials capabilities and complex systems. NIST performs 

research in high-speed electronics, wireless systems metrology, 

antennas, network design and optimization, spectrum sharing 

and public safety communications. The Center for Advanced 

Communications, a joint effort between NIST and the National 

Technology Information Administration, provides opportunities 

for collaborative R&D and access to test-bed resources.

Program Goals:

• Pioneer new technology platforms for advanced communications.

• Support the adoption of standard technologies into commercial networks.

• Provide research, development, testing and evaluation to foster 

nationwide first-responder communications interoperability.

• Promote interdisciplinary research, development and testing in 

advanced communications.

BY THE 

NUMBERS

69 % 

Growth of 

global mobile 

data traffic in 

2014 (Cisco)

$41 billion

Raised for 

research in auction of wireless 

spectrum 

(Dept. of Commerce)

497 

million

New mobile 

devices and 

connections in 

2014 (Cisco)

54 partners 

Support Public Safety Communications Research at the 

Commerce Labs in Boulder, 

Colo. (NIST)

www.nist.gov

ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AT NIST
Recent Program Highlights

• The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program within CTL hosted more than 500 participants from government, public safety and industry at its 2015 annual Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting.

• The PSCR Published the Public Safety R&D Location Based Services (LBS) Roadmap, is developing the 

Public Safety R&D Analytics Roadmap, and is initiating development of the Public Safety R&D Enhanced 

User Interface Roadmap.

• The National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) was established in 

March 2015 to organize a national network of federal, academic and commercial facilities that would provide the testing, modeling and analysis needed to develop and deploy spectrum-sharing technologies.

• The NASCTN launched three projects to address spectrum-sharing issues in three frequency bands: the 

Citizens Broadband Radio Band (CBRB), Advanced Wireless Service (AWS-3) and the Global Positioning 

System (GPS).

• Kicked off the 5G Millimeter Wave Channel Model Alliance to address the need for accurate channel 

propagation measurements and models that characterize the millimeter wave bands. To date, the alliance counts over 90 participants from industry, academia and other government organizations.

New for FY 2017

NIST is working to revolutionize public safety communications and increase the nation’s communications 

capacity. The request includes a total increase of $2 million for NIST to:

• Conduct research and assist with the development of standards, technologies and applications to advance wireless public safety communications.

• Conduct research to increase spectrum efficiency and improve spectrum sharing.

• Develop new measurements for next-generation 5G wireless networks and promote the development 

and deployment of advanced optical fiber communications technologies.

0

5

10

15

20

Dollars, in millions

FY 2017

Budget

FY 2015 FY 2016

12.8 12.8

14.8