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- The White House released this plan to guide spectrum-related research, inform investment decisions, and facilitate collaboration among federal agencies, private-sector organizations, and academia.
- Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) is contributing to the Nation Spectrum Strategy’s Implementation Plan’s strategic objectives:
o Improved spectrum efficiency and bolstering coexistence
o Collective understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum through coordinated, focused, and sophisticated research and development
On November 13, 2023, President Biden recognized radio frequency spectrum as one of the nation's most critical natural resources, calling for a modernized approach to spectrum policy development that meets rising demand for complex, spectrum-intensive wireless applications. As part of this effort, the White House released the National Spectrum Research and Development (R&D) Plan, developed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to guide spectrum-related research, inform future resource investment, and serve as a strategic reference for stakeholder interactions between federal agencies, private-sector organizations, and academia. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Communications Technology Laboratory (NIST CTL) contributed to this Plan by participating in the Wireless Spectrum Research and Development Interagency Working Group (WSRD IWG).
The National Spectrum R&D Plan identifies key opportunities for spectrum-related research and development, divided into categories of use-inspired research, fundamental research, research accelerators, and organizational improvements. The Plan outlines the need for fundamental research studies that enable more efficient access, use, and sharing of the electromagnetic spectrum and use-inspired research on Advanced Spectrum Management Processes.
NIST CTL’s established research portfolio, and recognized programs such as the National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network are directly linked to the NSS-I plan’s strategic objectives through “Designation of a global standards for advanced spectrum sharing and technologies team”, “Process for national assessment and certification of spectrum R&D infrastructure and tools”, a “Spectrum Sandbox Program”, and “Advanced dynamic spectrum sharing demonstration and report”.
NIST CTL is actively pursuing research and publication of findings into new techniques to improve spectrum sharing, including advanced modeling, interference mitigation, black box system testing methods, and aggregate emissions measurements, leading to an improved understanding and optimization of access to the wireless spectrum, a natural and limited resource.
Other NIST projects that support this goal include the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Sharing Ecosystem Assessment and research being completed at the National Broadband Interoperability Testbed. While the National Spectrum R&D Plan does not mandate specific actions or funding commitments, it provides a strategic framework to shape future decisions. It will support U.S. leadership in spectrum research, ensuring continued innovation across government and private-sector initiatives.
To read the full White House release, click here. For additional information on NIST’s Spectrum Technology and Research Division, click here.