Developing Next-Generation Domestic Multi-Mission Radar to Facilitate 5G and Other Emerging Technologies

摘要

The United States utilizes radar systems for various domestic missions. These systems create the backbone of our Nation's defense, air traffic control (ATC), and weather detection capabilities. While these systems adequately accomplish the mission at hand, they are beginning to age, are prone to outages, and do not employ radio frequency spectrum-efficient technologies that have been developed since their deployment. Concurrently, the world has seen an increase in consumer demand for wireless connectivity and broadband data. Emerging commercial technologies such as 5G networks, Internet of Things, and satellite internet constellations are being developed and deployed to satisfy these consumer needs. This increase in wireless coverage and capacity comes with a price of increased demand for spectrum. The Department of Defense (DoD) supports a program that seeks to update domestic radar systems and facilitate the deployment of the latest commercial technologies. Spectrum is a finite resource. To accommodate and encourage emerging technologies while protecting federal system operations, both government and industry are looking at options to either share or auction federal spectrum for commercial use. The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 requires the Federal Communications Commission (industry representative) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (federal agency representative) to identify 30 MHz of spectrum under 3 GHz to either auction to nonfederal entities, share usage, or implement a combination of both approaches by July 2024. To accomplish this requirement, federal agencies are studying the feasibility of auctioning at least 30MHz of spectrum in the 1300-1350MHz federal band.