The committee will prepare a report exploring the scientific uses of the radio spectrum by radio frequency transmissions and the measurement thereof. In carrying out the study, the committee will:
- Describe the science that is currently being conducted using the radio spectrum for transmission and measurement of these active signals and identify the spectrum requirements necessary to conduct this research;
- Identify the anticipated future spectrum requirements necessary to continue to conduct and expand this research for the next 10-20 years, taking into account trends in overall active use of the spectrum;
- Discuss the value to the nation of accommodating the active scientific use of the spectrum, recognizing the need to balance the needs of multiple communities;
- Assess the active science communities’ current and anticipated future access to the spectrum required for research; and
- Recommend strategies to accommodate the continued active use of the spectrum for scientific purposes in order to maintain the needed science capabilities identified above.
The committee will comment on the spectrum use by the relevant scientific communities for applications such as active microwave remote sensing (i.e., airborne and space-based radars) of Earth to observe environmental phenomena, incoherent scatter radar studies of Earth’s ionosphere and radar astronomy of solar
system objects, but will not make recommendations on the allocation of specific frequencies. The committee will not make recommendations on communications operations (i.e., transmission of data) that support the scientific uses of the spectrum described above. The committee should consider proven and potential unilateral and cooperative mitigation techniques in its analysis of access to spectrum.
