International Agencies and Regulations

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

ITU-R, the radio bureau of the International Telecommunicatons Union (a UN agency in Geneva) sets radio telecommuncations policy world-wide. Every 3-4 years, a World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) crafts new treaty language to which member states subsequently adhere by national adoption (with some leeway). Each WRC also drafts the issues and agenda for its successor, as a reaction to the evolving nature of radio technology and spectrum use. The ITU-R currently considers the radio spectrum to extend up to 3000 GHz and makes allocations up to 275 GHz.

Radio astronomy is one of the so-called "passive services", grouped with earth sensing. Its interests are nominally represented at the ITU-R in Working Party 7D (the D-th working party of Study Group 7). In practice, WP7D meetings are often attended by non-radio astronomers whose interests are not exactly aligned with those of radio astronomy. World Radio Congress (WRC) meetings are huge gatherings (~2000 delegates), attended by a dozen or so radio astronomers. The organization of the ITU-R is mirrored nationally in working parties and study groups which meet locally before heading to Geneva once or twice a year. USWP7D meets monthly in telecons hosted by the NSF EMS Office and interested parties should email ems@nsf.gov.

Other International Policy Groups

The Scientific Committee on Frequency Allocations for Astronomy and Space Science (IUCAF) is an International Council for Science (ICSU)-sponsored group with members appointed by International Astronomical Union (IAU), the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). IUCAF has independent standing at the ITU and represents radio astronomy very effectively in the largest arena. It meets twice each year with WP7D in Geneva. IUCAF sponsors regular Summer Schools in spectrum management.The IAU co-sponsors IUCAF.

CRAF, the Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies of the European Science Foundation, was partly modelled after CORF but it employs a permanent, full-time advocate and spectrum manager and a rotating chair. In the Asia-Pacific region, an analogous role to CORF is played by the Radio Astronomy Frequency Committee in the Asia-Pacific region (RAFCAP).

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..."

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