Spectrum Supportability and E3 Policy and Guidance
E3/Spectrum Supportability Policy and Guidance
DoD Policy requires developers of communication-electronics systems, whether spectrum dependent or not, to ensure system electromagnetic compatibility and that they provide a determination of spectrum supportability before assumption of contractual obligations for full scale development, production, or procurement. Early attention to electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) and spectrum issues is particularly critical in spectrum dependent systems, to mitigate risk and to properly address spectrum supportability and electromagnetic compatibility. Failure to consider E3 and/or spectrum early could result in program delays, additional cost or less than full operational capability. There are many resources available to help assist in spectrum certification and planning.
This section provides details and resources on DoD policies in these technical areas and guidance on implementing those policies for the E3 acquisition community. It provides details on procedures to follow during a program life-cycle to ensure systems will have electromagnetic spectrum to use that they will be compatible when fielded.
The requirement to impose E3 control and ensure Spectrum Supportability in the weapons system acquisition cycle is called out in a variety of policy directives and instructions, including the latest issuances of the following:
| CJCSI 3170.01G | Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, (1 March 2009) |
| CJCSI 5123-01H |
Charter of the JROC and Implementation of the JCIDS (31 Aug 2018) |
| CJCSM 3170.01C | Operation of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, (1 May 2007) |
| JCIDS Manual |
Manual For The Operation of The Joint Capabilities Integration and Development (20180831)
|
| DoDD 5000.01 |
Defense Acquisition System (12 May 2003) |
| DoDD 5000.01 Change 2 |
The Defense Acquisition System (DAS) (31 Aug 2018) |
| DoDI 5000.02 |
Operation of the Defense Acquisition System |
| DODI 5000.02 Change 5 |
Operation of the DAS (21 Oct 2019) |
| DoDI 3222.03 |
DoD Joint Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Program (25 Aug 2014) |
| DoDI 3222.03 Change 2 | DoD E3 Program (10 Oct 2017) |
| DoDI 4650.01 |
Policy for Management and Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum |
| DoDI 4650.01 Change 1 | Policy and Procedures for the Use of the EMS - CHANGE 1 (17 Oct 2017) |
| EMS SGV |
EMS Survivability Guidebook Version 2 - July 2020 |
| MCEB Documents |
Describes the DoD spectrum certification system and functions. |
- Spectrum Supportability requires Certification by the acquiring service's Spectrum Management Office
- Consideration of worldwide allocations and Host Nation regulations
- Consideration of future spectrum plans
- Feedback early in the development process
- Collaboration between acquisition and spectrum management community to mitigate risk
DoDI 4650.01, (January 9, 2009, Change 1, 7 Oct 2017) Policy and Procedures for Management and Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
SSRAs are required to determine and document if adequate spectrum is available to support system operation in DoD, Allied, and Coalition operations. SS and E3 risks and the steps that need to be taken to mitigate the risks are to be identified in the SSRA and provided to the Military Department (MILDEP) Spectrum Management Office (SMO) who will review the SSRA and forward their recommendations to the Service Chief Information Officer (CIO) for approval. A statement on the spectrum supportability of an acquisition is then forwarded to the milestone decision authority (MDA). Program Manager (PMs)/Materiel Developers (MATDEVs) should consult, as early as possible, with their respective MILDEP SMO regarding the application and tailoring of the SSRA, and to ensure that all user requirements are met.
The detail and scope of each SSRA depends upon the system’s entry point into the DAS, the complexity of the system, knowledge of the S-D systems to be acquired or integrated, and the intended operational EME. In general, each PM/MATDEV is required to prepare and submit an SSRA when the acquisition includes or incorporates an S-D system or equipment, including commercial items (CI) and non-developmental items (NDI) that are S-D.
Spectrum Supportability Risk Assessments (SSRAs) (Specifics - New Page)
- Purpose: Ensure DoD equipment and systems are designed to conform to applicable E3 standards, international and national tables of allocated frequency bands, and other frequency guidance
- Submission reponsibility: Equipment program office
- Approval Responsibility: ESG PWG of the Joint Frequency Panel (JFP)
- Representatives from each Service
- Technical Support from the Joint Spectrum Center (JSC)
- Methodology: Review technical Characteristics on DD Form 1494 for compliance is a four stage process
- Stage 1: Conceptual - Initial planning complete, including proposed frequency bands
- Stage 2: Experimental - Preliminary design complete, radiation using test equipment and preliminary models may be required
- Stage 3: Developmental - Major design complete and radiation required for testing
- Stage 4: Operational - Development is complete and final operating constraints or restrictions required to assure compatibility need to be identified
The Host Nation Coordination/Approval process generally runs parallel with certification. Without a certification, most host nation governments will not consider authorizing the use of military systems. The process is complicated in that some countries (NATO member nations for example) follow set procedures that are predictable; while others will not entertain a request for HNC unless we are requesting a frequency assignment for immediate use. The latter makes it difficult for a developer to assess what band to use for a given application.
- Equipment Spectrum Certification
- Host Nation Supportability Assessment
- Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Assessment.
Ligado (formerly LightSquared) was seeking FCC approval to provide a wholesale, nationwide, wireless broadband network integrated with satellite coverage. They intended to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide 5G network in the L-Band, adjacent to the Global Positioning System (GPS), a plan the FCC backed on April 20, 2020. The frequency band is next to the primary GPS frequency (L1). The GPS community was concerned because testing had shown Ligado's ground-based transmissions would overpower the relatively weak GPS L1 signals from space. Although Ligado would operate in its own authorized band, the band is so close to the GPS signals that many GPS devices could pick up the stronger Ligado signals and become overloaded or saturated. FCC said the company had to protect GPS bands from interference, including requiring Ligado to have "significant" 23 MHz guardbands in its own spectrum to separate its transmissions from neighboring satellite GPS operations, as well as limiting the power levels to its base stations and respond to entities that had experienced interference. There is also concern that millions of existing GPS users could be forced to upgrade their devices and/or accept GPS performance losses to accommodate the new network.
- https://gcn.com/articles/2020/05/08/dod-spectrum-ligado.aspx
- National Academies issues report on Ligado interference - GPS World : GPS World
- Spectrum Interference Issues: Ligado, the L-Band, and GPS (congress.gov)
ITU global standard for international mobile telecommunications
For the last 20 years, ITU has been coordinating efforts of government and industry and private sector in the development of a global broadband multimedia international mobile telecommunication system, known as IMT. Since 2000, the world has seen the introduction of the first family of standards derived from the IMT concept. Since May 2007, there are more than 1 billion IMT-2000 subscribers in the world!
´IMT-Advanced´ provides a global platform on which to build the next generations of mobile services - fast data access, unified messaging and broadband multimedia - in the form of exciting new interactive services.
GPS Modernization with New Civil Signals
A major focus of the GPS modernization program is the addition of new navigation signals to the satellite constellation. The new signals are phasing in incrementally as the Air Force launches new GPS satellites to replace older ones. There are four GPS signal specifications designed for civilian use. In order of date of introduction, these are: L1 C/A, L2C, L5 and L1C.[1] L1 C/A is also called the legacy signal and is broadcast by all currently operational satellites. L2C, L5 and L1C are modernized signals, are only broadcast by newer satellites (or not yet at all), and as of January 2021, none are yet considered to be fully operational for civilian use. Most of the new signals will be of limited use until they are broadcast from 18 to 24 satellites. In addition, there are restricted signals with published frequencies and chip rates but encrypted coding intended to be used only by authorized parties.