Spectrum Management at NRAO

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The spectrum is a finite resource. These pages describe how the Spectrum Management Department works at NRAO. Spectrum Management at NRAO is broadly separated into four areas of effort: Zone Regulatory Services, Spectrum Monitoring and RFI Mitigation, Spectrum Policy and Special Projects. Follow the links below (or in the navigation bar to the left) to find out more about current efforts in these areas.

Zone Regulatory Services

NRAO Zone Regulatory Services (ZRS) is responsible for all concurrence work in the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), the New Mexico Radio Coordination Zone (NMRCZ) and the Puerto Rico Coordination Zone (PRCZ). The NRQZ and PRCZ have legal protections related to the placement of fixed transmitters in these two graphically defined regions. While the NMRCZ does not have legal protections like the other two Zones, it does engage in coordination efforts with operators of radio frequency transmitters in the Plains of St. Augustin (home of the VLA) and at each of the 10 Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) sites.

National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ)

 This division is responsible for all concurrence work in the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ). Follow this link for details about the NRQZ and concurrence requirements in this Zone.

New Mexico Radio Coordination Zone (NMRCZ)

 This division is responsible for coordination efforts in the regions surrounding the VLA (Plains of St. Augustin) and at VLBA sites across the continental US and in Hawaii and St. Croix (Virgin Islands). Follow this link for details about the NMRCZ and coordination efforts in this Zone.

Puerto Rico Coordination Zone (PRCZ)

 This division is responsible for all concurrence work in Puerto Rico Coordination Zone (PRCZ). Follow this link for details about the NRQZ and concurrence requirements in this Zone.

Spectrum Monitoring & RFI Mitigation

This division is responsible for regular site-level spectrum monitoring, RFI mitigation, and careful RFI testing of devices to be deployed at NRAO sites. RFI work is highly site-specific, so each NRAO site has established an Interference Protection Group (IPG) that meets regularly to discuss current RFI challenges and solutions. Historical and current reports on RFI can be found in the NRAO RFI Memo Series. NRAO also holds a monthly RFI Journal club for scientists, engineers, and analysts. The important observatory-level work of the New Mexico and Green Bank Interference Protection Groups are reported through this division, and regular bi-annual meetings of the RFI Working Group serve to focus this work.

Green Bank Interference Protection Group (GB-IPG)

 The Green Bank IPG meets bi-weekly. Click here to see a summary of recent GB-IPG activities.

New Mexico Interference Protection Group (NM-IPG)

 The New Mexico IPG meets monthly. Click here to see a summary of recent NM-IPG activities.

Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)

 ALMA mostly operates at higher frequencies than the telescopes located at the GBO and in New Mexico. However, as commercial/active users push to higher frequencies, external RFI at ALMA is likely to become more of an issue.

Spectrum Policy

The Spectrum Policy division is responsible for NRAO contributions to national and international discussions about the use of radio spectrum. National policy is set by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (for non-commercial spectrum use) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for commercial spectrum use. There are many international organizations that contribute to spectrum policy. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the international body that sets policy that crosses national boundaries.

National

 Spectrum Management is responsible for shaping the NSF NRAO's responses to FCC requests for comment and decisions. Follow this link for more details about National Spectrum Policy work, and recent NRAO filings.

International

 Spectrum Management is responsible for the NSF NRAO’s participation in international meetings like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the World Radiotelecommunication Congress (WRC). Follow this link for more details about International Spectrum Policy work and participation.

Special Projects

The Special Projects Division is home to funded projects that push the boundaries of what is currently available to NRAO in spectrum monitoring and RFI mitigation. Currently active projects include Operational Data Sharing (ODS), the Advanced Spectrum Monitor (ASM-2), now in its second generation, the Dynamic Radio Interference Finding Tool (DRIFT), and a 7 GHz Band Study. The first three projects are funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), and the band study is funded by the NTIA (through the US NSF).

Advanced Spectrum Monitor (ASM-2)

 The ASM-2 is a 1-50 GHz spectrum monitoring device with direction finding capabilities. Click here to see the current status and capabilities of the ASM-2.

Dynamic Radio Interference Finding Tool (DRIFT)

 DRIFT is a web-based software package that allows internal and external users to access Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) scans from NRAO telescopes and spectrum monitors located at all NRAO sites, including scans from the VLA, the VLBA, the Green Bank Telescope and others. Click here to see the current status and availability of DRIFT.

Operational Data Sharing (ODS)

 NRAO has developed the Operational Data Sharing (ODS) system which publishes radio telescopes’ observation information to a protected database. Satellite operators use these data to adjust their downlink tasking algorithms in real time to avoid sensitive RA facilities.

7 GHz Band Study

Several important development efforts are taking place in this spectrum management division, including the Advanced Spectrum Monitor (ASM-2), and Operational Data Sharing (ODS). This division houses development efforts that will (if successful) become part of the Spectrum Monitoring.

National Radio Dynamic Zone (NRDZ)

The NRDZ Project was funded by NSF starting in 2020, and several of NRAO's current Special Projects began as NRDZ-funded efforts. 

Connect with NRAO

The NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory and NSF Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NSF NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NSF NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NSF NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NSF NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (U.S. NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.