Committee on Radio Frequencies

CORF represents the interests of U.S. scientists who use radio frequencies for research—for example, radio astronomers and remote sensing researchers. The committee deals with radio-frequency requirements and interference protection primarily through filing comments under the aegis of the National Academy of Sciences in public proceedings of the Federal Communications Commission. The committee acts as a channel for representing the interests of U.S. scientists in the work of the Scientific Committee on Frequency Allocations For Radio Astronomy and Space Science (IUCAF) of the International Council for Science and in working groups of the Radiocommunication Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Committee and Staff Members
Membership	Paul A. Vanden Bout, Chair, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (06/2008) Jeffrey Piepmeier, Vice Chair, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (06/2008) Ana P. Barros, Duke University (06/2010) Douglas C.-J. Bock, University of California at Berkeley / Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (06/2010) Steven W. Ellingson, Virginia Tech (06/2010) David G. Long, Brigham Young University (06/2009) Darren McKague, Ball Aerospace Corp. (06/2010) James M. Moran, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (06/2010) Melinda Piket-May, University of Colorado at Boulder (06/2008) Alan E.E. Rogers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory (06/2010) Steven C. Reising, Colorado State University (06/2009) Lucy Ziurys, University of Arizona (06/2010) Terms end at dates shown (mm/yy) Past Members of CORF
Consultants	Paul Feldman, Esq., Fletcher, Heald and Hildreth Michael Davis, retired A. Richard Thompson, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
NRC Staff	Donald C. Shapero, Director, Board on Physics and Astronomy David B. Lang, Senior Program Associate

Future Meetings		Past Meetings
May 20-21, 2008 Keck Center, Washington, DC Agenda pending…		December 15-16, 2007 Beckman Center, Irvine, CA Agenda and Presentations
		October 16 – 17, 2006 Socorro, New Mexico Agenda and Presentations
		April, 10 – 11 2006 Keck Center, Washington, DC Agenda and Presentations
		October 17-18, 2005 Beckman Center, Irvine, CA Agenda and Presentations
		April 27-28, 2005 Keck Center, Washington, DC Agenda and Presentations
		April 8-9, 2004 Keck Center, Washington, DC Agenda and Presentations
		More Past Meetings…

Recent Activities

CORF was represented at the World Radiocommunication Conference on October 22-26, 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. CORF materials, including its “Handbook,” and other information were available at the NASA booth.

The committee, A Survey of the Scientific Uses of the Radio Spectrum, has been appointed. The current system of allocating bands in the radio spectrum was developed over fifty years ago, and a review of the needs of scientific users is in order. In recent years, the explosion of new wireless technologies has significantly increased the demand for access to the radio spectrum. The increased demand has led to discussions in both government and industry about new ways of thinking about spectrum allocation and use. Scientific users of the radio spectrum (such as radio astronomers and earth scientists using remotely sensed data) have an important stake in the policies which will result from this activity. This survey of the scientific uses of the spectrum will identify the needs of today’s scientific activities and assist spectrum managers in balancing the requirements of the scientific users of the spectrum with other interests. The survey will be carried out by an NRC committee over a period of 18 months.

Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific Uses (2007) The electromagnetic spectrum is a vital part of our environment. Information encoded in the spectrum of radiation arriving at earth from the universe is the means by which we learn about its workings and origin. Radiation collected from the Earth’s land, oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere provide us with much of the data needed to better understand this environment. Wise use of the spectrum is necessary if we are to continue these advances in scientific understanding. To help guide this effort, the NSF and NASA asked the NRC to develop a set of principles for fostering effective allocation and protection of spectral bands for scientific research. This handbook contains practical information in this connection including a description of regulatory bodies and issues, a discussion of the relevant scientific background, a list of science spectrum allocations in the United States, and an analysis of spectrum protection issues. Please email us at bpa@nas.edu for a complimentary copy of the report.

• in the Matter of Amendment of Parts 2 and 35 of the Commission’s Rules to Allocate Spectrum and Adopt Service Rules and Procedures to Govern the Use of Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations in Certain Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service (IB Docket No. 07-101). The National Academy of Sciences, through the National Research Council's Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF), hereby submits its comments in response to the Commission's May 15, 2007, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the above-captioned docket (NPRM). In these comments, CORF discusses the importance to the Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) of observations at 14.47-14.50 GHz and supports portions of the Commission’s proposal, as modified below, to protect RAS observations in this band with coordination requirements. (August 16, 2007)
• in the Matter of Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules (WT Docket No. 07-100). The National Academy of Sciences, through the National Research Council's Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF), hereby submits its comments in response to the Commission's May 14, 2007, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the above-captioned docket (NPRM). In these comments, CORF notes its concern about the potential impact of proposed permanent fixed microwave operations in the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band on radio astronomy observations. Accordingly, if the Commission decides to authorize such permanent fixed operations, it should enact rules requiring prior frequency coordination of such operations, in order to protect radio astronomy observations. (August 13, 2007)

CORF Information and Publications Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific Uses (2007) Spectrum Manager’s Resource Center Views of the Committee (1991) Administrative Data Related Publications Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific Uses (2007) NSF/NRAO Radio Astronomy Summary of WRC-07 (2007) NSF Spectrum Management Long Range Plan (2005) Spectrum Policy Task Force Report (2002)

Links to Other Sites NSF Electromagnetic Spectrum Management NASA Spectrum Management Office Federal Communications Commission National Telecommunications and Information Administration NRAO RFI/Spectrum Management URSI: International Radio Science Union URSI / USNC Commission E (EESS) URSI / USNC Commission J (RAS) Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (European Science Foundation) Commission on Frequency Allocations for Radio Astronomy and Space Science (IUCAF) International Telecommunication Union NAIC, Arecibo Spectrum Management

Errors? Please send suggestions or corrections to bpa@nas.edu.

The Committee is pleased to acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Committee funding is provided by the National Science Foundation's Division of Astronomical Sciences, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Science Mission Directorate, and the NASA Space Operations Management Office.