Modification to Experimental License

0013-EX-ML-2015 Text Documents

DRS Technical Services, Inc.

2015-02-20ELS_159215

“Public” Interest Statement Exhibit 1 REQUEST FOR MODIFICATION TO EXPERIMENTAL LICENSE 1. Introduction DRS, a world leader in system development is presently performing a government contract which calls for DSR to develop communications systems for the Army Material Command (AMC), Research and Development Engineering Command (RDECOM), under the Last Tactile Mile (LTM) Support Contract, W15P7T-10-D-D416. The Army POC for this Contract is Don Bryan, Army Contracting at (443)861-0086. Although DRS will be operating the facilities, the equipment involved is Government Furnished Equipment. DRS is the primary contractor to provide support services for system development and fielding of LTM Solutions at the Communications – Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center’s (CERDEC’s) Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD). This task will include engineering services, technology insertion and integration, software and hardware engineering, systems integration support, test and evaluation, integrated logistics support, communication frequency logistics support, new equipment training, maintenance and engineering support, installation and de-installation, and business operations support. DRS shall support supply procurement efforts required for LTM. This effort will support emerging Army Division Modularity Initiative requirements and is critical to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation Enduring Freedom campaigns. Grant of the requested license is requested with Station Class “XT”, as the experiment is intended to support both Internal Research and Development as well as the above-referenced contract activity. 2. Purpose and Nature of the Operation We are applying for a modification to our experimental license so that we may test, develop, and operate equipment needed by the Warfighter as a quick react solution to meet their tactical needs. Test requirements may materialize quickly and are vital to military mission success. Our scope has changed and this includes new locations along with new events that the Army sponsors for the development of new technologies that we currently support. This is also true of training operations with the Warfighters on equipment that is being integrated into their units’ operations. The intent is to ensure the protection of the Warfighter and to reduce the impact to the surrounding civilian population. Some of the testing we do is to ensure that our systems will not interfere with the civilian population where our soldiers are fighting. Technologies are rapidly changing within the civilian world. These changes impact the way that the Army’s equipment must operate. We are tasked with ensuring that the soldiers have systems that support their mission. Because vendors do not support equipment for long durations, we must determine if their new components are compatible with our fielded systems. This requires field testing since a laboratory environment cannot simulate the number of variables seen in the field. 1

The soldiers using our systems need to be trained for correct operations. This is not just a functional issue but also a safety concern. Procedures are only effectively developed through use of the systems. DRS Field Service Representatives (FSRs) operate the equipment and develop the operating procedures used by the Warfighter in the field. Also, there are times that deployed equipment is not operating correctly. Working with this equipment in a range environment gives the FSRs and engineers greater insight to the problems, which, in turn, can be used to isolate configuration, operator, and even some environmental issues. A waiver of the Station ID requirement of Section 5.115 is respectfully requested. 3. Interference Mitigation DRS is well aware of its obligation under Part 5 of the Federal Communications Commission’s Rules to avoid interference to co-channel licenses in non-experimental services and will take steps to ensure compliance with this obligation. This is why DRS performs a radio frequency (RF) Site Survey before beginning any operations at Fort Huachuca, AZ, Fort Dix, NJ, Fort Bliss, TX, and Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD and the additional locations we are adding: Fort Bragg and Mountain Home Air Force Base. The RF Site Survey covers beyond our bands of operation to ensure that we are aware of all users of the spectrum in the site of our operations. The spectral plots are collected in four directions: north, east, south, and west. After the data is collected, the spectrum plots are reviewed for potential interference. The direction of this source of interference is noted, and our operational plan is adjusted to ensuring we don’t affect other users of the frequency spectrum. The FCC database is reviewed for users of the spectrum as well. These users are noted, and we review how much of them we see during our RF Site Survey. Since our testing and development can involve different ranges at a facility, spectrum data is collected at each range we plan on operating. An RF Site Survey Report is generated after each period of data collection. This report highlights our concerns and proposes means of mitigating potential interference. The facilities that we are requesting this license for can monitor the RF spectrum during our testing. This would give us the ability to see how the RF environment changes with our operations. The data collected from this equipment are added to our RF Site Survey. 4. “Stop Buzzer” DRS’s FSRs will control the operation of the equipment during all phases of its use on the ranges of Fort Huachuca, AZ, Fort Dix, NJ, Fort Bliss, TX and APG, MD. The following DRS personnel will be available by wireless telephone and will act as a “stop buzzer” if any issues regarding interference arise during testing: Program Operations Manager, Rich Ramsey and he can be reached at Cell: (443) 280-5352. For the foregoing reasons, DRS respectfully submits that the approval of this application is in the public’s interest, convenience, and necessity. 2


Document Created: 2015-02-20 14:24:44
Document Modified: 2015-02-20 14:24:44
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