| Paper: | TH-A4.1 |
| Session: | Radio-Frequency Interference I |
| Time: | Thursday, March 29, 11:40 - 12:00 |
| Presentation: |
Oral
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| Topic: |
RFI and spectrum management: |
| Title: |
RF Spectrum Management and the Impact of RFI to Science Sensors |
| Authors: |
Sandra Cruz-Pol; University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez | | |
| | Liese van Zee; Indiana University | | |
| | William Blackwell; MIT Lincoln Laboratory | | |
| | Darrel Emerson; NRAO | | |
| | Tomas Gergely; Consultant | | |
| | Namir Kassim; Naval Research Laboratory | | |
| | David Le Vine; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | | |
| | Amy Lovell; Agnes Scott College | | |
| | James Moran; Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics | | |
| | Scott Ransom; National Radio Astronomy Observatory | | |
| | Paul Siqueira; University of Massachusetts | | |
| Abstract: |
The ever-increasing demand for the radio frequency (RF) spectrum is transforming radio regulations (RR) at national and international levels at an increasingly frenzied pace. Observations collected with radio-astronomy and Earth remote sensing instruments can easily be rendered unusable due to Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) whether it is from out-of-band (OOBE) or spurious emissions towards the bands used by these sensors. The RFI could originate from a single transmitter or the aggregate effects of a collection of several transmitting sources using the same frequency (e.g. spurious radiation from a poorly designed TV receiver) or different frequencies, e.g., OOBE. The aggregate case is particularly problematic because the collective signal can be indistinguishable from natural radiation.
The Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) is a standing committee of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that represents scientific users of the radio spectrum. It is specifically intended to represent the interests of the radio astronomy and Earth remote sensing communities which are passive users of the spectrum and particularly vulnerable to RFI. Representing the interests of “science” is especially important today when the demand for spectrum is so great. For example, in January 2016, a mere 65MHz of the RF spectrum was auctioned for approximately $45B. The value derived from improved weather prediction and a plethora of advances catalyzed by scientific and engineering missions is of great societal benefit, as stated by the 2010 ITU-R RS.2178 Report, which highlights the economic impact on the order of over $240B in disaster management alone.
CORF is comprised of radio astronomers and remote sensing scientists who help keep track of the proposed changes in spectrum allocation, and argue for the needs of the science community when the changes impact scientific use. A major activity is responding to proposed changes with documentation of the impact on science. The focus is on spectrum issues within the US. An example is presenting the impact on science of changes to be discussed the World Radio Conference (WRC) coordinated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland. In the next WRC, to be held in November 2019, some of the Agenda Items (AI) to be discussed could impact scientific uses of the RF spectrum. These include, for example, new allocations near the Oxygen resonance line at 50 GHz and the atmospheric window at 36 GHz. Also on the agenda is the assignment of users above 275 GHz.
This paper will present an overview of spectrum management within the USA and the role of CORF. It will also describe some of the more important issues on the table for WRC19 and their potential impact on passive remote sensing.
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