RADIO FREQUENCY AUTHORIZATIONS
Table of Contents: Page
1. Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 1
2. Background .......................................................................................................................... 1
3. Description ........................................................................................................................... 3
4. Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 4
5. Organizational Functions .......................................................................................................
5
5.1 Project Leaders ..............................................................................................................
5
5.2 Regional Headquarters Radio Frequency Focal Point .....................................................
5
5.3 WSH Radio Frequency Manager ...................................................................................
6
Appendix:
RFA for NWS Radio Transmissions ....................... A-1
Reference:
Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management, May 1992
* * * * *
1. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to describe National Weather Service (NWS) policy and management responsibilities for the authorization of radio frequency (RF) use and to ensure adherence to requirements dictated by the reference Department of Commerce (DOC)/National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (NTIA Manual). Radio frequency authorization requests, the procedures and formats that are needed to convert them into RF authorizations (RFA), and the organizational functions that are necessary to process them are described.
2. Background. All nations share the electromagnetic spectrum. International cooperation in electromagnetic spectrum use is necessary to minimize interference and to ensure the most effective use of that spectrum. The United Nations recognizes the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as being responsible for maintaining cooperation to improve all telecommunications. The ITU allocates the international RF spectrum, registers frequency assignments, coordinates the resolution of interference, and allots call signs. The Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme agency of the ITU. It formulates general policies, establishes budgetary guidelines, elects members, and concludes agreements between the ITU and other international communications organizations. The agency has three subordinate groups:
The World Administrative Radio Conference
The International Frequency Registration Board
The International Radio Consultative Committee
The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, governs RF spectrum use in the United States and its possessions. The Act established two spectrum management agencies--the NTIA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The NTIA regulates the spectrum use of federally operated radio stations. The FCC regulates the spectrum use of radio stations that are not operated by the Federal Government.
The Communications Act of 1934 gave control of Government radio stations
to the President. Executive Order 12046 established
the NTIA in 1978 to act as the President's agent in tele- communications
matters. The NTIA is now under the DOC.
The Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), established by Presidential Order in 1922, is the policy-making agency of the NTIA. Most often, frequency managers deal with this committee. The IRAC consists of representatives from the following:
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Air Force
Department of the Army
Department of Commerce
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
Department of the Navy
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Emergency Management Agency
General Services Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
United States Coast Guard
United States Information Agency
United States Postal Service
The IRAC's daily functions are carried out by four subcommittees: the Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS), Spectrum Planning Subcommittee, Technical Subcommittee, and International Notification Group.
The Communications Act of 1934 also created the FCC as an independent Government agency directly accountable to Congress. The FCC regulates non-Federal government telecommunications. The FCC also maintains a liaison at all IRAC meetings and works with its subcommittees even though the FCC is not an IRAC member. The liaison is the cross-over point for spectrum management actions requiring FCC coordination. The FCC is also the focal point in the United States for the distribution of call signs with direct coordination from the ITU to nongovernment users and to Federal Government agencies (see the list of IRAC members above).
The NWS, as a part of the DOC, may use only specific parts of the radio frequency spectrum after being authorized to do so by the DOC representative to the IRAC, who in turn must obtain authorization from the IRAC. The NWS must formally apply for RFAs for each use in any other part of the spectrum. It has authority to issue some call signs from blocks allotted to it by the FCC.
The interdepartmental Hydrologic Radio Frequency Coordination Group (HRFCG), under the standing chair of the NWS Office of Hydrology, advises the IRAC and the FCC on applications by Federal and non-Federal users for proposed use of U.S. Government hydrologic frequencies. Any radio frequency assignment request for these frequencies must be reviewed and approved by the HRFCG prior to the requester forwarding, via NWS Headquarters (WSH), the final application package to the DOC for frequency assignment.
3. Description. The RFA request is transmitted from the using organization in an informational format that must be formally provided through the DOC to the NTIA. It requests authorization (licensing) for the NWS to operate a radio frequency transmitter. For the purposes of this chapter, any device that emits a radio wave (voice/data, radar, radiosonde, satellite-associated Earth station, telemetry, etc.) is a transmitter and must be considered for licensing. Among the information required by the NTIA are the radio-associated parameters such as transmitter location, frequency, and power and antenna location, type, gain, orientation, height above ground, and height above sea level. The precise information and format required are detailed in Chapter 9 of the NTIA Manual. The information required in the RFA request enables the DOC FAS representative to enter the RFA request data into a data base of the Government Master File, which can be accessed by members of the FAS so that they can coordinate and review the request. The NTIA and all agencies within the Federal Government then concur or do not concur with the request. Assuming concurrence, the NTIA will issue an RFA to the DOC, who will in turn issue an RFA to the NWS. If there is not concurrence, the NWS must coordinate with the non-concurring agency to resolve any conflicts prior to the NTIA issuing an RFA to the NWS.
For clarity, the following definitions have been reprinted from paragraph 6.2, "Frequency Nomenclature," of the NTIA Manual. These terms are used to describe the distribution of frequencies or bands of frequencies.
Allocations (of portions of the spectrum) are made to radio services, for example, the fixed service, the aeronautical mobile service, and the space research service.
Allotments (of frequencies under specified transmission conditions) are made to areas or countries and, within the U.S. Government, to specific uses.
Assignments are instruments of Authorization of discrete frequencies to specific radio stations. (Authority to transmit and the specific conditions under which that transmission may take place.)
Additionally, the FCC issues licenses to individual citizens and corporations. The Federal Government receives RFAs.
4. Procedures. Upon determining the planned need for a radio transmission device, and well in advance of the date the authorization will be needed, the appropriate NWS project personnel should coordinate the radio requirement with the WSH Radio Frequency Manager or the regional headquarters radio frequency focal point and produce the information required for an RFA request in the specified format. The information and format requirements may be determined by referring to Chapter 9 of the NTIA manual or, if necessary, by contacting the regional headquarters radio frequency focal point or the WSH Radio Frequency Manager.
The WSH project leaders and regional headquarters radio frequency focal points should submit RFA requests directly to the WSH Dissemination Systems Section. The WSH Radio Frequency Manager will provide assistance, as requested, in the preparation of RFA requests.
All RFA requests will be examined for accuracy, proper justification, and necessary coordination before being processed through the DOC to the IRAC FAS for approval by the NTIA.
The requestor will be provided an RFA (assuming approval) within 3 months. The RFA will be provided to the NWS project leader and the associated regional headquarters radio frequency focal point for distribution and disposition. In special cases, the requestor can be notified verbally of approval/disapproval within 2 months after submission of the request.
5. Organizational Functions. The Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch of the Systems Integration Division, Office of Systems Operations, has responsibility for the overall management of NWS telecommunications programs. The Dissemination Systems Section of the Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch is tasked with the coordination and management of the radio frequency management program. The primary functional components within the NWS are the national and regional project leaders, the regional headquarters radio frequency focal points, and the WSH Radio Frequency Manager.
5.1 Project Leaders. The national and regional project leaders are responsible for gathering all required radio parameter data and providing it to the national and regional headquarters radio frequency focal point. The data required, summarized in the simplified forms provided in the Appendix of this chapter, must be provided in accordance with Chapter 9 of the NTIA Manual. While the simplified forms should assist the project leaders, it must be noted that the project leaders are responsible for all the information contained in the forms and for ensuring that the information is complete and complies with the NTIA Manual.
5.2 Regional Headquarters Radio Frequency Focal Point. The regional headquarters radio frequency focal point will coordinate with the regional project leaders, the radio frequency focal point in the adjacent region(s)/country as appropriate, and the WSH Radio Frequency Manager and will submit the necessary information in the prescribed format to the WSH Radio Frequency Manager.
5.3 WSH Radio Frequency Manager. The WSH Radio Frequency Manager will ensure the accuracy of the information provided, check for compliance with requirements, and initiate the processing of the radio frequency request through the DOC/FAS/IRAC/NTIA. After the processing is complete, the WSH Radio Frequency Manager will inform appropriate personnel and subsequently provide them with an RFA as described earlier in this chapter.
Appendix
RFA for NWS Radio Transmissions
This appendix explains each data element code and provides 13 simplified listings for individual programs for project leaders and regional headquarters radio frequency focal points to use when submitting RFA requests. The listings cover information required for the following types of radio stations:
Automated Surface Observing System
NOAA Data Buoy System
GOES Satellite Data Collection Platform Stations
Hydrologic Radio Stations
NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio Link
Radar Link
Radiosonde Down Link
Radiosonde Up Link
Wind Profiler
WSR-57S Radar
WSR-74C Radar
WSR-88D Radar
Asterisks identify those data fields that must be completed as described in Chapter 9 of the NTIA Manual. Those without asterisks are filled out with the obligatory or most common usage. All fields should be checked for accuracy by the requestor.
The data element descriptions are provided for general explanatory purposes only. Any questions regarding the exact nature of the specific information or coding required in the abbreviated forms should be resolved by consulting Chapter 9 of the NTIA Manual.
Requests for RFAs should cite the numerical limits of the specific frequencies (in Hertz) that are being requested. Letters or numbers shall not be used to designate specific bands of frequencies, e.g., S-band, X-band, or Ku-band. Such designations create confusion because the band limits vary from one designator system or user group to another.
The RFA request forms now in use within the NWS must contain the required information, but neither the form field names nor the field entries need to be changed at this time. In the future, when RFAs can be submitted electronically, submissions in the format described in this Appendix will be required.
GLOSSARY
$$ADD
COMMAND ENTRY AND DATE
TYP01
TYPE OF ACTION
DAT01
APPLICATION DATE
CLA01
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
FRQ01
OPERATING FREQUENCY
BUR01
BUREAU
BIN01
FREQUENCY BAND INDICATOR
STC01
STATION CLASS
EMS01
EMISSION DESIGNATOR
PWR01
OUTPUT POWER
STC02
STATION CLASS
EMS02
EMISSION DESIGNATOR
PWR02
OUTPUT POWER
NTS01
RECORD NOTES
NTS02
RECORD NOTES
NTS03
RECORD NOTES
SPD01
POWER DENSITY
XSC01
TRANSMITTER STATE AND COUNTRY
XAL01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA LOCATION
XLA01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA LATITUDE
XLG01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA LONGITUDE
XCL01
TRANSMITTER CALL SIGN
XAD01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA DIMENSIONS
XAP01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA POLARIZATION
XAZ01
TRANSMITTER ANTENNA ORIENTATION
TME01
TIME FREQUENCY REQUIRED
RSC01
RECEIVER STATE AND COUNTRY
RAL01
RECEIVER ANTENNA LOCATION
RLA01
RECEIVER ANTENNA LATITUDE
RLG01
RECEIVER ANTENNA LONGITUDE
RAD01
RECEIVER ANTENNA DIMENSIONS
RAP01
RECEIVER ANTENNA POLARIZATION
RAZ01
RECEIVER ANTENNA ORIENTATION
REM01
REMARKS
REM02
REMARKS
REM03
REMARKS
REM04
REMARKS
FAS01
FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
SUP01
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M41#.###
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 FX
EMS01 16KF1D
PWR01 W5
NTS01 S361
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 06GDIPOLEARRY#####H####T
*
XAZ01 ND
TME01 1
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *RAD,0001B
REM02 *NRM,00010,NET
REM03 *EQS,LMS
REM04 *SYS,WEATHER,ASOS
SUP01 INTERROGATED DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS
NOAA DATA BUOY SYSTEM
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NDBO
STC01 TM
EMS01 1K50G1D
PWR01 W40 or W10
*
NTS01 C069
NTS02 S326
NTS03 S594
SPD01 -022(for 10W) 0r -016(for 40W)
*
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 11G045B###/XXXA#####H###(10W)
*
(AZI and HT. above gnd.)
or 03G060B###/XXXA#####H###(40W)
XAP01 R
XAZ01 V##
*
RSC01 SPCE
RAL01 GEOSTATIONARY
RLA01 000000N
RLG01 1350000Wfor GOES WEST
*
or 0750000 for GOES EAST
RAD01 07G075B
RAP01 R
RAZ01 EC
REM01 *SNT,0225K
REM02 *EQT,C,MAGDCS 302-10
REM03 *EQR,C,PHI0003
REM04 *NTS,M015,IRAC 16761
SUP01 FOR COLLECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DATA.
GOES SATELLITE DATA COLLECTION PLATFORM STATIONS
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 TM
EMS01 1K5G1D
PWR01 W10
NTS01 C069
NTS02 S326
NTS03 S594
SPD01 -022
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 11G045B###/XXXA#####H###
*
(AZI and HT. above gnd.)
XAP01 R
XAZ01 V##
*
RSC01 SPCE
RAL01 GEOSTATIONARYRLA01 000000N
RLG01 1350000Wfor GOES WEST
*
or 0750000 for GOES EAST
RAD01 07G075B
RAP01 RRAZ01 EC
REM01 *SNT,0225
REM02 *EQT,C,HAN540A
REM03 *EQR,C,PHI0003
REM04 *NTS,M015,IRAC 16761
SUP01 FOR COLLECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DATA.
HYDROLOGIC RADIO STATIONS
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M###.###
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 FXH or FXHR
*
EMS01 16KF2D
PWR01 W
*
NTS01 C075
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 ##Gnam of ant#####H####T
*
XAZ01 ND or AZ
*
TME01 3
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
RAD01 ##GNAMEOF ANT#####H####T
*
RAZ01 ND or AZ
*
REM01 *EQT,C,MFRMODEL
*
REM02 *EQR,C,MFRMODEL
*
REM03 *SYS,HYDROLOGIC
FAS01 HYDRO APPROVAL LETTER
*
# DTD YRMODA
Note: Approval must first be obtained from the Hydrologic Radio Frequency Coordination Group prior to forwarding requests for an RFA to the DOC through WSH.
NOAA WEATHER RADIO
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M162.####
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 FX
EMS01 16KF3E
PWR01 W## or K1
*
STC02 FL
EMS02 16KF3E
PWR02 W## or K1
*
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XRC01 (CONTROL)8spaces
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XCL01 XXX##
XAD01 ##NAME OFANT#####H####T
*
XAZ01 ND or AZI
*
TME01 1
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *RAD,0040R
REM02 *EQT,C,SRSSR416
*
REM03 *SYS,MISC,NOAA WEATHER RADIO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO LINK
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M41#.###
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 FX
EMS01 16KF3E
PWR01 W40
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XRC01 (CONTROL)8spaces
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XCL01 XXX##
XAD01
*
XAZ01 ND or AZI
*
TME01 1
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
RAD01
*
REM01 *EQT,C,MFRMODEL
*
REM02 *EQR,C,MFRMODEL
*
REM03 *SYS,MISC,NOAA WEATHER RADIO LINK
RADAR LINK
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 FX
EMS01 1M6F1D
PWR01 W1
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 30GPARABOLA #####H####T
*
XAP01 H
XAZ01 AZI
*
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
RAD01 30GPARABOLA #####H####T
*
RAP01 H
RAZ01 AZI
*
REM01 *EQT,C,HFILR4-2000
REM02 *EQR,C,HFILR4-2000
SUP01 FOR EXCHANGE OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA
RADIOSONDE DOWN LINK
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M1670.0000
BIN01 -
BUR01 NWS
STC01 WXR
EMS01 1MK8D
PWR01 W1
STC02 WXR
EMS02 1MV8D
PWR02 W1
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *FRB,M01670.0000,M01700.0000
REM02 *RAD,0200T
REM03 *EQR,C,SERWBRT
SUP01 FOR TRANSPONDER OR NON-TRANSPONDER OPERATIONS.
RADIOSONDE UP LINK
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M400.1500
BIN01 -
BUR01 NWS
STC01 WXRG
EMS01 200KXN
PWR01 W50
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *FRB,M00400.1500,M00406.0000
REM02 *RAD,0200R
REM03 *EQT,C,SERWBRT
REM04 *EQR,C,VIZ1292-C,VIZ1296
SUP01 FOR COLLECTION OF WIND VELOCITY DATA BY TRANSPONDER
WIND PROFILER
The Wind Profiler Radar spectrum allocation process is presently at
stage 2, Experimental, (out of 4 stages). A request form for this
radar will be provided when the allocation process is at stage 4, Production.
WSR-57S RADAR
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 WXD
EMS01 13MP0N
PWR01 K500
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 38GPARABOLA #####H####T
*
XAP01 H
XAZ01 R
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *PRR,658/164
REM02 *EQT,C,RAYWSR57S,FV,PD.5/4
REM03 *EQR,C,RAYWSR57S
REM04 *AGN,REPLACES DOC #######,M####
*
FAS01 COORD WITH FAA SPECTRUM MANAGER
*
NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
SUP01 FOR WEATHER SURVEILLANCE AND STORM DETECTION
WSR-74C RADAR
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 WXD
EMS01 5MP0N
PWR01 K250
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 41GPARABOLA #####H####T
*
XAP01 H
XAZ01
RRSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *EQT,C,ETEWSR74C,TC,PD3,PRR266
REM02 *EQR,C,ETEWSR74C
SUP01 REQUIRED FOR OPERATIONAL WEATHER DETECTION RADAR.
WSR-88D RADAR
$$ADD C yr####
*
TYP01 N
DAT01 yrmoda
*
CLA01 U
FRQ01 M
*
BUR01 NWS
STC01 WXD
EMS01 4M6P0N
PWR01 K750
XSC01 st
*
XAL01 city24
*
XLA01 demiseN
*
XLG01 degmiseW
*
XAD01 46GPARABOLA #####H####T
*
XAP01 S
XAZ01 R
RSC01 st
*
RAL01 city24
*
RLA01 demiseN
*
RLG01 degmiseW
*
REM01 *PRR,320-1.3K/320-450
REM02 *EQT,G,UNSWSR88D,TC,PD1.5/4.5
REM03 *EQR,G,UNSWSR88D
REM04 *AGN,NEXRAD
FAS01 COORD WITH FAA THRU WSH RADIO FREQUENCY MANAGER.