NTIA/OSM Spectrum Use Summary (960

Spectrum Use Summary (960 - 1710 MHz)

Compiled as of August 11, 1994

This document represents an overview of Federal and nonfederal spectrum use. In order to serve its purpose as a quick reference, its length has been limited. Therefore, it is not all inclusive in its portrayal of U.S. spectrum requirements or its representation of the allocation table.

Uses are stated in terms of general functions and actual equipment names are not specified. Federal systems and missions which would have necessitated classification of the summary have been omitted, though they represent significant Federal requirements. Also, Federal agencies lease many services from private sector providers. As written, this summary indicates these uses only as nongovernment use of the frequency spectrum. Furthermore, no attempt has been made to evaluate the level of investment of funds in the uses that are discussed.

Allocations, by footnote, to very limited locations have generally been omitted. The summaries of Federal uses have been written to emphasize, to the greatest extent possible, the missions performed, as opposed to the agencies that perform them.

960-1215 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; This band is used heavily for long-established commercial, and private flight safety operations, and is essential for safe travel within the national and international airspace systems. All aspects of aircraft identification, tracking, control, navigation, collision avoidance, and landing guidance are carried out. Many major aeronautical radionavigation systems used in this band including the Microwave Landing System (MLS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME/P), Air Traffic Control Beacons (ATCRBS, Mode-S, and IFF), and Collision Avoidance System (T-CAS), operate or are being developed to operate in this band to support commercial and private aircraft. They are used throughout the world under International Civil Aviation Organization agreements which have treaty status within the U.S.; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; This band is used heavily for long-established government flight safety operations, and is essential for safe travel within the national and international airspace systems. All aspects of aircraft identification, tracking, control, navigation, collision avoidance, and landing guidance are carried out. Many major aeronautical radionavigation systems used in this band including Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), the Microwave Landing System (MLS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME/P), Air Traffic Control Beacons (ATCRBS, Mode-S, and IFF), and Collision Avoidance System (T-CAS), operate or are being developed to operate in this band. These aviation systems are essential to not only normal aviation traffic, but some, like the TACAN/DME, are also essential to the NASA Space Shuttle program. They are used throughout the world under International Civil Aviation Organization agreements which have treaty status within the U.S.; The military departments are also using this band for integrated communications and navigation through the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) on a non-interference basis. This multibillion dollar development is part of an updated NATO system that provides highly secure, jam resistant communications in a hostile environment.

1215-1240 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; Earth Exploration-Satellite and Space Research (FN713 using radiolocation); Government Allocation and Use; RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE; RADIOLOCATION; Earth Exploration-Satellite and Space Research (FN713 using radiolocation); The frequency 1227.6 MHz is designated for the Global Positioning System (GPS) as part of the radionavigation satellite service. This is a multisatellite system (up to 18 are planned) and large numbers of U.S. and international users are anticipated.; This band is used for radiolocation performing long-range air surveillance. The military services make use of the band for high-power long-range surveillance radars on land and ships in support of national defense missions.; A recent radiolocation application, having high national priority, is the use of radar equipment in support of drug interdiction efforts. In this application, radar equipment is mounted on tethered balloons along the southern border of the U.S. to detect low-flying aircraft entering U.S. airspace. Data is relayed to ground and appropriate action taken.; Space research and earth-exploration satellite activities for microwave sensor measurements of ocean wave surface are performed by NASA.

1240-1300 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; Amateur; Amateur-Satellite (FN664 1260-1270); Earth Exploration-Satellite and Space Research (FN713 using radiolocation); Amateur television (1240-1246, 1252-1258, 1276-1282), weak signal modes (1295.8-1297), other modes through the band. Active use of amateur satellite (Earth-to-space) in accordance with Footnote 664.; Government Allocation and Use; RADIOLOCATION; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION (FN714); Earth Exploration-Satellite and Space Research (FN713 using radiolocation); This band is used heavily for radiolocation and radionavigation performing long-range air surveillance and enroute air-traffic control functions. The FAA and aviation users depend upon air-route surveillance radars (ARSRs) to obtain aircraft position information in support of enroute air-traffic control. The military makes use of it for high-power long-range surveillance and air-traffic control in support of national defense missions.; A recent radiolocation application, having high national priority is the use of radar equipment in support of drug interdiction efforts. In this application, radar equipment is mounted on tethered balloons along the southern border of the U.S. to detect low-flying aircraft entering U.S. airspace. Data is relayed to ground and appropriate action taken.; NASA radiolocation activities in the 1240-1300 MHz band are for an experimental multi-spectral imaging radar using synthetic aperture (side-looking) techniques.; NASA also uses this band for space research and earth-exploration satellite in conjunction with microwave sensor measurements of ocean wave surface.

1300-1350 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; Radiolocation; This band is used heavily for radiolocation and radionavigation performing long-range air surveillance and enroute air-traffic control functions. The FAA and aviation users depend upon air-route surveillance radars (ARSRs) to obtain aircraft position information in support of enroute air-traffic control. The Air Force makes use of it for high-power long-range surveillance radars and air-traffic control radars, in support of national defense missions.; A recent radiolocation application, having high national priority is the use of radar equipment in support of drug interdiction efforts. In this application, radar equipment is mounted on tethered balloons along the southern border of the U.S. to detect low-flying aircraft entering U.S. airspace. Data is relayed to ground and appropriate action taken.; Radio astronomy observations of highly redshifted hydrogen atoms occur in the 1330-1350 MHz band.

1350-1400 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; Government Allocation and Use; FIXED; MOBILE; RADIOLOCATION; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION (FN714 1350-1370); FIXED and MOBILE SATELLITE (FN G114 1381.5); Earth Exploration-Satellite and Space Research (FN720 1370-1400); This band is heavily used for various military radiolocation applications for high-power long-range surveillance radars.; GPS operates on 1381.05 to relay data on nuclear bursts detected by orbiting satellites. GPS is a multisatellite system and large numbers of U.S. and international users are anticipated, however this specific requirement is limited to U.S. satellites.; Radio astronomy observations of highly redshifted hydrogen atoms occur in this band. Knowledge of other galaxies and the early universe comes from these observations. NASA performs passive space research and earth-exploration satellite observations.; This band is seeing increased use for fixed links and mobile links, since the Federal fixed and mobile service allocations were upgraded to primary in 1989.; NTIA has proposed reallocating the 1390-1400 MHz portion of this band for nonfederal use by January 1999.

1400-1427 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; RADIO ASTRONOMY; EARTH EXPLORATION SATELLITE; SPACE RESEARCH; Government Allocation and Use; RADIO ASTRONOMY; EARTH EXPLORATION SATELLITE; SPACE RESEARCH; This band has been set aside nationally for passive operations and no stations are authorized to transmit. There are no Federal assignments in this band.; Radio astronomy is conducted in this band. Observation of the spectral line of neutral atomic hydrogen allows study of the structure of our galaxy as well as others. The band is also used for continuum observations.; Observations by the Radio solar telescope Network also occur in this band.; NASA performs passive space research and earth-exploration satellite observations. This band is extremely important for measurements of land moisture and salinity, and ocean surface characteristics.

1427-1435 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; SPACE OPERATION (1427-1429); Land Mobile; Fixed; Private land mobile, Satellite communications; Government Allocation and Use; FIXED; MOBILE; SPACE OPERATION (1427-1429); This band is used to support a variety of military fixed and mobile applications. Functions include tactical/training operations, light route radio relay, telemetry and telecommand including command of missiles and RPVs, and automatic target scoring.; There are also some fixed operations planned for use in Federal resource management programs.; NTIA has proposed reallocating the 1427-1432 MHz portion of this band for nonfederal use by January 1999.

1435-1530 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE; This band is heavily used for aeronautical telemetry and telecommand. This is crucial to industry research, development, and testing of aircraft and missile systems.; Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE; This band is heavily used for aeronautical telemetry and telecommand. This is crucial to NASA, and DOD research, development, and testing of aircraft and missile systems. Many of the assignments in the 1435-1525 MHz band are for missile test telemetry. The use of small devices with omnidirectional antennas require frequencies below 3 GHz. Aeronautical telemetry needs extensive spectrum, and minimal in-band and adjacent band interference. Equipment using this band have been built into many missile and aircraft platforms and have been tailored to those specific electromagnetic environments. This band is congested in many areas and new systems are being moved to 2360-2390 MHz.; Also, DOE uses the band for telemetry in nuclear research and development efforts. Use of this band is dictated by the need for equipment mobility and small antennas.

1530-1544 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; MARITIME MOBILE SATELLITE; Mobile (1525-1535); The major use in this band is for INMARSAT downlinks providing distress, safety, and general communications. This system is used currently by 17000 ships throughout the world, including extensive operations within inland waterways for ship-to-shore communications. The number of users is expected to reach 40,000 within the next 10 years. Its use for distress and safety communications is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This international; Government Allocation and Use; MARITIME MOBILE SATELLITE; Mobile (1525-1535); Federal vessel operators participate in the use of the INMARSAT/GMDSS system. The Navy uses the INMARSAT system for international communications in ocean areas from its Military Sealift Command vessels operated by civilian crews.; The Air Force and Navy use the 1525-1535 MHz portion of this band for aeronautical telemetry on a secondary basis when such operation does not conflict with the primary operation.

1544-1545 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE SATELLITE; Solely used for distress and safety.; Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE SATELLITE; This band is used by SARSAT for a downlink to relay satellite EPIRB transmission.

1545-1559 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL MOBILE SATELLITE (R); MOBILE SATELLITE (Footnote US308); This band will be used for the downlink for the nationwide mobile satellite system authorized by the FCC. This system will be operated by the American Mobile Satellite Corporation, a consortium of eight U.S. companies. Mobile satellite services are expected to grow rapidly. Included within this frequency range is the internationally allocated 1545-1555 MHz AMS(R)S allocation (space-to-Earth) to support the worldwide interoperable AMS(R)S through a number of satellites. In accordance with US308, AMS(R)S has priority and real-time preemptive access in this band segment.; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL MOBILE SATELLITE (R); MOBILE SATELLITE (footnote US308); Federal agencies will make use of mobile satellite operations in this band.; NASA is using the 1554.0 MHz downlink for testing narrowband technology and mobile station antennae in conjunction with a mobile satellite experimental program.

1559-1610 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE; Aeronautical Mobile (US 260); Private sector use of GPS is extensive for land, sea, and air radionavigation. Other uses of GPS include surveying, aircraft landing aids, position location, traffic management, and scientific research.; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE; Aeronautical Mobile (US 260); The Global Positioning System operates on a center frequency of 1575.42 MHz in this band as part of the radionavigation satellite service. This is a multisatellite system and large numbers of U.S. and international users are anticipated. The GPS downlinks must be within the 1-2 GHz range due to power and space considerations. ICAO has recognized the GPS and GLONASS as the two principal candidates for the Global Navigation Satellite System.

1610-1626.5 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (FN732); RADIODETERMINATION-SATELLITE (FN US306); Aeronautical Mobile (US 260); Radio Astronomy (FN734 1610.6-1613.8); There are no active private sector RDSS systems to date. However, the FCC has received applications for low-earth and geostationary orbit mobile satellite systems to provide voice and high data rate communications (Big LEOS).; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION; AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (FN732); RADIODETERMINATION-SATELLITE (FN US306); Aeronautical Mobile (FN US260); Radio Astronomy (FN734 1610.6-1613.8); This band has been reserved on a worldwide basis for development and use of airborne electronic aids to air navigation.; Recent changes were made to allocate this band to radiodetermination satellite service (Footnote US306) uplinks on a primary basis. Federal agencies have begun leasing access to systems in this service and increased use is expected.; Radio Astronomy observations of the OH radical are carried out between 1610.6 and 1613.8 MHz. The OH line observations are crucial to understanding interstellar medium and star formation.; Government use of mobile-satellite and radiodetermination-satellite services is limited to earth stations operating with non-government satellites.

1626.5-1645.5 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; MARITIME MOBILE SATELLITE; A major use of this band is for INMARSAT ship earth stations. These systems are used currently by 17000 ships throughout the world, including extensive operations within inland waterways for ship to shore communications. The number of users is expected to reach 40,000 within the next 10 years. Its use for distress and safety communications is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. This international application is tied to and required by international treaty resulting from the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. INMARSAT also provides satellite supported aeronautical public correspondence and some land mobile satellite service downlinks.; Government Allocation and Use; MARITIME MOBILE SATELLITE; Federal agencies will make active use of the mobile-satellite operations for land, air, and maritime communications. The Navy uses the INMARSAT system for international communications in ocean areas from its Military Sealift Command vessels operated by civilian crews.

1645.5-1646.5 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE SATELLITE; Solely used for distress and safety.; Government Allocation and Use; MOBILE SATELLITE; There are no operational Federal assignments in this band; however, this band is used for distress and safety operations. Plans exist for satellite EPIRBS and relay of distress and safety signals between satellites.

1646.5-1660.5 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL MOBILE SATELLITE (R); MOBILE SATELLITE (Footnote US308); RADIO ASTRONOMY (1660-1660.5); INMARSAT II operates 1646.5-1649.5 MHz; This band will be used for the uplink for the nationwide mobile satellite system recently authorized by the FCC. This system will be operated by the American Mobile Satellite Corporation, a consortium of eight U.S. companies. Mobile satellite services are expected to grow rapidly.; Government Allocation and Use; AERONAUTICAL MOBILE SATELLITE (R); MOBILE SATELLITE (Footnote US308); RADIO ASTRONOMY; This band will be used for the uplink for the nationwide mobile satellite system recently authorized by the FCC. This system will be operated by the American Mobile Satellite Corporation, a consortium of eight U.S. companies. Mobile satellite services are expected to grow rapidly, including many Federal users. Included within this frequency range is the internationally allocated 1646.5-1656.5 MHz AMS(R)S allocation (Earth-to-space) to support the worldwide interoperable AMS(R)S through a number of satellites. In accordance with US308, AMS(R)S has priority and real-time preemptive access in this band segment.; NASA is using the 1655.5 MHz uplink for testing narrowband technology and mobile station antennae in conjunction with a mobile satellite experimental program.; Passive radio astronomy observations of the redshifted spectral line of the OH radical, essential for understanding interstellar medium and star formation in other galaxies, are carried out in this band.

1660.5-1668.4 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; RADIO ASTRONOMY; SPACE RESEARCH; Government Allocation and Use; RADIO ASTRONOMY; SPACE RESEARCH; This band has been set aside nationally for passive operations and no stations are authorized to transmit. There are no Federal assignments in this band.; Passive radio astronomy observations are performed under the protection of US246 (transmissions prohibited). Observation of the two spectral lines of the OH radical (1665.402 and 1667.359 MHz), essential for understanding interstellar medium and star formation in other galaxies, are carried out in this band. The band is also used for continuum observations.

1668.4-1710 MHz: Non-Government Allocation and Use; METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (1668.4-1700); METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE (1670-1710); RADIO ASTRONOMY (1668.4-1670); Fixed (1700-1710); Earth Exploration-Satellite (FN671 1690-1710); Government Allocation and Use; METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (1668.4-1700); METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE (1670-1710); RADIO ASTRONOMY (1668.4-1670); FIXED (1700-1710); Earth Exploration-Satellite (FN671 1690-1710); This band is extensively used worldwide for gathering meteorological data for weather prediction, severe storm warning, public safety and research. This data is gathered by two technologies: radiosondes and satellite imagery. NTIA has proposed reallocating the 1670-1675 MHz portion of this band for nonfederal use by January 1999.; Radiosondes are operated nationwide by numerous Federal agencies to gather local weather data. These small inexpensive transmitters are attached to balloons and provide wind velocity, temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity at various altitudes. The availability is essential to aviation activities, as well as space launches. The data gathered by radiosondes are exchanged internationally for worldwide weather prediction and research. Also, NASA uses this band for transmission of meteorological data from tethered balloons.; The Department of Commerce operates the GOES and TIROS-N satellites used for weather tracking and prediction. This information is essential for severe storm notification and public safety, and is used daily in TV and radio broadcast weather reporting to the public. Most of the meteorological satellite users are earth stations that receive the satellite data. The assignments in this band for earth terminals are primarily for fixed locations; however, over 40 are planned for shipboard use in the U.S. coastal waters.; Also, radio astronomy observations are carried out in this band.; Some agencies have begun using the 1700-1710 MHz band for fixed line-of-sight data communications as the 1710-1850 MHz band gets crowded.

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