DoD CIO

Mr. Thomas Taylor

DoD CIO 

Spectrum Policy and Programs

8 Oct 2014

Department of Defense (DoD)

Achieving Federal/Commercial Spectrum 

Sharing 

VCAT 2014
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DoD CIO

Purpose

Provide use cases to identify requirements for a trusted 

measures and metrics environment in the development of 

electromagnetic spectrum sharing solutions
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DoD CIO

DoD Perspective on Spectrum Sharing

• DoD depends on the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) for 

operational effectiveness due to increased use of data and 

automation on the battlefield. 

• Simply reallocating DoD to new frequency bands is an incomplete 

solution

• Sharing is an essential part of maximizing EMS access for all users 

including DoD

• Development of efficient, flexible, adaptable and agile spectrum 

sharing technologies will improve DoD’s operational effectiveness

• Spectrum sharing technologies require robust implementations that 

are validated through trusted tests in a realistic environment.

• Spectrum sharing must include protections for DoD operations and 

classified information 
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DoD CIO

National Advanced Spectrum and Communications 

Test Network (NASCTN

DoD Requirements for NASCTN with the Center for Advanced 

Communications: 

• Enable a trusted capability for federal, academic, and industry spectrum users 

to facilitate spectrum sharing studies; optimize access to engineering 

capabilities; and engage federal, academic, and industry spectrum users in 

active collaboration;

– Need impartiality

– Mutual agreement

– Sound engineering

• Protect information whether proprietary, classified, and sensitive, pursuant to 

applicable agreements, regulations, and statutes while facilitating maximum 

dissemination of controlled information;

• Provide a source for EMS test data, analyses, and reports that can be made 

available to federal, academic, and industry spectrum users to assist in testing, 

technology assessments, and other research; and

• Facilitate coordination, rapid access, and engagement of stakeholder 

engineering capabilities.
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Use Case Analysis

• Three use cases have been selected to provide a 

“thought exercise” for your discussion on 

identification of requirements for trusted testing that 

represent current real issues

• The use cases represent a range of potential efforts 

that NASCTN and CAC may become engaged in 

• Each use case provides a background, issues/risks, 

key tasks and solution requirements 
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3.5 GHz Sharing Use Case Analysis

Description

• The band is being studied for “shared use” as part 

of the National Broadband Plan

• The band is allocated to Radiolocation and 

Aeronautical Radio-navigation and is used by 

mission critical Navy radars, with some 

Army/Marine Corps systems 

• DoD must maintain full access to this band

• Simplicity of 3.5 GHz band use makes it a logical 

resource to share

Key Tasks

• Sharing estimations and calculations must 

be validated with accurate measurements

• Sharing information to resolve issues 

must protect proprietary and classified 

• Increased coordination (both internal to 

DoD and externally to commercial 

enterprises) on planned 3.5 GHz testing

Issue/Risk Solution Requirements

• These radars are part of the defense plan for 

the continental US

• Initial proposed sharing methodology is 

complex with several challenges 

• Operational security issues are significant

• Organizational distrust is impacting cooperation

• Systems are highly classified

• Commercial systems to share the band have yet 

to be designed

• Protected environment to work with 

classified and proprietary information

• Validate proposed propagation models

• Ensure accurate measures and agreed 

metrics

• Provide commercial systems metrics to 

ensure incumbents are protected 
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Spectrum Sharing Determination 

Use Case Analysis

Description

• Increased demand on the electromagnetic 

spectrum requires more users to have access to 

more spectrum

• DoD must not lose spectrum in order to 

maintain its operational effectiveness

• Sharing of the resource between current and 

future users is complex 

• Trust and accurate measurements and metrics 

is essential to working out sharing agreements

Key Tasks

• Trusted engineering up front first 

• Agreed measures

• Agreed metrics

• Protect classified and proprietary information

• Cooperative cross federal agency and commercial enterprise 

spectrum sharing test approach

• Recommend technology improvement to promote sharing

• Provide scientifically based information and data to the 

spectrum regulatory bodies

Issue/Risk Solution Requirements

• Lack of transparency and organizational distrust 

impedes progress 

• Independent non-cooperative testing cost DoD both resources and impact

• Key commercial equipment and future DoD 

systems are not developed at the time of the 

sharing agreements are being sought

• Decision makers are not being provided the 

best scientific based information to support the 

regulatory processes

• Unbiased and trusted test environment

• Optimized test scenarios by leveraging the optimum available facility for 

measures

• Advise when agreed metrics are not met

• Coordination with Federal regulatory 

processes
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“Model City” Use Case Analysis

Description

• Model City is a concept developed by PCAST* 

for a federal and commercial test capability

• Model City will provide a capability for testing 

and evaluating new spectrum dependent 

technologies in a metropolitan environment 

based on software controlled waveforms and 

environment

• Initial focus will be on advanced capabilities for 

LTE; however, any spectrum dependent 

technology could be tested

Key Tasks

• Each Model City environment must be 

defined

• Model City must maintain scientific rigor

• Objectivity and trust must be proven out with 

agreed metrics and measures prior to 

influencing political or regulatory structures.

• Cost must be supported by commercial 

activities

Issue/Risk

• Model City promotes a ‘wild-wild-west’ 

approach to proving technology capabilities 

• Promotes uninformed decision making due to 

unproven test environment 

• No one city can provide a model for all city 

operating environments

• Role in regulatory advise is not defined

• Ensure regulatory recommendations are 

backed by accurate and repeatable 

measures and metrics 

• Properly define the operating 

environment of each city that is 

modeled

Solution Requirements

*PCAST = President's Council of Advisors on 

Science and Technology
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Summary

• Sharing of the electromagnetic spectrum promotes a 

strong economy and operational effectiveness for 

DoD

• Use case “thought exercise” shows the value of 

using trusted testing (impartial scientifically based 

information)

• NASCTN and CAC provide a unique approach to 

the trusted testing while addressing DoD operational 

concerns

Trusted Engineering Up Front First to Optimize Sharing 

Solutions for the Future