FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE URGED TO MAKE SPECTRUM AVAILABLE FOR DoD

Dept. of Defense (DoD) is “talking with other agencies” to see whether those federal entities may be willing to make additional radiofrequency spectrum available for DoD communications needs, Defense official said Tues. at homeland security workshop at U.S. Chamber of Commerce hq in Washington. DoD Homeland Security Task Force Dir. Peter Verga didn’t disclose which agencies or departments were engaged in intragovernmental discussions, but reiterated Pentagon’s stance that growth in worldwide Defense operations continued to strain scarce spectrum resources.

Initiative to expand DoD access to spectrum reflects position expressed by Defense officials in last year to congressional appropriators. Although desired approach to addressing RF constraints was to more efficiently use Defense-specific spectrum, efforts aimed at “sustaining” and “expanding” spectrum access also were considered. Air Force Secy. James Roche said that rather than demand more spectrum, agency would develop wireless communications systems to maximize use of bandwidth (CD May 16 p3). Similarly, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency last year (CD Oct 26/2001 p3) launched its Next Generation (XG) program, which seeks to develop “dynamic spectral use” technologies for military and eventual commercial use. However, in written testimony submitted to Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Roche and Gen. John Jumper (USAF) made clear that new strategy was needed not only to preserve, but also to increase, DoD spectrum access.

Wireless industry sees no problem in DoD efforts to possibly have govt.-designated spectrum reallocated for Defense purposes, CTIA spokesman said: “As the government faces increasing spectrum requirements, it is heartening to know that they are looking to innovative solutions and searching for more spectrum within government -- without putting more pressure on the commercial sector.”

Verga said separately that DoD was limited constitutionally from becoming directly involved in domestic law enforcement, but was permitted to provide support to new Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) “in key areas such as research & development” and information technology system integration: “We stand ready to help [DHS].” He said he was unaware whether DoD’s Joint Spectrum Center (JSC) would be asked to provide technical support for wireless infrastructure deployment projects involving DHS, Treasury Dept., Dept. of Justice (CD Dec 11 p3), but emphasized that JSC “has the capacity to do the analytical work” needed for such wireless programs.

Verga said DoD’s technology testing and evaluation facilities would be made available to DHS, precluding need for homeland security entities to build additional structures. He said major challenge that DHS faced was integration and interoperability of IT and communications systems of 22 federal agencies and units that would be migrated to DHS. Joint Interoperability Testing Center at Defense Information Systems Agency “is uniquely chartered” for such purposes, he said.

Existing DoD contract vehicles are additional assets that DHS can take advantage of, Verga said. Although DoD acquisition process is imperfect, magnitude of contracts typically decreases per-unit costs of equipment purchases, resulting in savings for DHS as well as taxpayers, he said. - - Steve Peacock