8 October 2014

Eric D. Nelson

NTIA Institute for Telecommunication Sciences

(303) 497-7410 enelson@its.bldrdoc.gov
Institute for 

Telecommunication Sciences

• NTIA’s research and engineering laboratory; evolved from NBS 

Central Radio Propagation Laboratory.* 

• Supports telecommunication policy formation and research 

needs of U.S. government. 

• Principal Federal resource for 

solving the telecommunications 

concerns of other Federal 

agencies, state and local 

Governments, private 

corporations and associations, 

and international organizations.

* C. Gordon Little, “What on Earth Happened to the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory (CRPL),” IEEE Antennas and 

Propagation Magazine, Vol. 33, No. 4, August 1991.
National Telecommunications and 

Information Administration Structure
Major Research Programs

• Radio propagation

modeling

• Spectrum measurements

• ITU-T and ITU-R studies

• Audio, video and 

multimedia quality

• Public Safety 

Communications

• Spectrum sharing
Institute for 

Telecommunication Sciences Structure
EMC 

Test and 

Measurement

Modeling and 

Simulation

Spectrum sharing analyses

Environmental 

Assessment

Technical 

Parameters for 

Rulemakings

Conformity 

Assessment Test 

Systems

Surveillance 

Testing

Interference 

Mitigation

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ITS Program Funding (millions)

Technical work:

• 25% Direct

• 75% Reimbursable

TSR, $4.65 

OSM, $2.61 

Spectrum Mon., 

$1.50 

PSCR, $11.86 

PMW, $1.20 

Other IAA, $2.68 

Overhead, $6.16 

Other IAA PMWSCR TR OSM———Telecommunication Sciences Research Public Safety Communications Research NTIA’s Office of Spectrum Management Propagation Modeling Website —Interagency Agreements

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Contemporary modeling example

WG1 approach

MetSat Rx at center of cluster

Urban: 1.6 km cell radius, n = 1088

Suburban: 7 km cell radius, n = 670

WG5 approach

Actual “randomized” carrier deployment

MetSat Rx ~ 20 km from city center

Urban: n = 15

Suburban: n = 11

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A new spectrum framework

• Presidential memoranda on spectrum—Jun 2010, Jun 2013

• NTIA fast track reports—Oct 2010

• NTIA 10-year plan and timetable—Oct 2010

• CSMAC Working Groups in support of AWS-3 auction—Jul 2012

• International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies (ISART) 

conferences on spectrum sharing—Jul 2010/11/12, May 2015

• Wireless Spectrum R&D (WSRD) group—Oct 2010

• National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network 

(NASCTN) Table-Top Exercise—Jun 2013

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Programmatic approach

• Appropriated funds used to build capabilities and address research gaps

• Radio Spectrum Measurement System

• Clutter measurements

• Aggregate models

• System simulations

• Other agency projects and CRADAs enhance technical capabilities

• 1755-1780 MHz CSMAC studies

• DOT/Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) study

• Propagation modeling website (PMW)

• US Coast Guard radar compatibility study

• NTIA short term studies

• 3.5 GHz Joint Working Group

• Radar compatibility with WiFi and LTE

• Propagation modeling

• Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test-bed

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Key FY15 Spectrum Activities

Measurements research

• 1755-1780 and 3550-3650 MHz clutter measurements—statistical 

analysis, system verification, and test design

• Millimeter wave measurements

1695-1710 MHz band

• Spectrum Engineering Tool (SET), i.e. EMC analysis and coordination

1755-1780 MHz band

• Propagation modeling, interference protection criteria, and clutter 

measurements for Spectrum Sharing Test & Demonstration project 

3.5 GHz band

• Spectrum monitoring, propagation modeling, and clutter 

measurements

5 GHz band

• U-NII DFS compatibility—analysis and conformity assessment

• DOT/Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) study

ISART 2015—modeling, simulation, test and measurement

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Abbreviations

CSMAC—Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory 

Committee

EMC—Electromagnetic Compatibility

IAA—Interagency Agreement

ITU—International Telecommunications Union

OSM—(NTIA) Office of Spectrum Management

PMW—Propagation Modeling Website

PSCR—Public Safety Communications Research

TSR—Telecommunication Sciences Research

WG—Working Group

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