Supplemetal statement

0509-EX-ST-2014 Text Documents

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

2014-06-09ELS_150067

Supplemental Statement to STA Applications
File Number 0509-EX-ST-2014 & 0480-EX-ST-2014

INTRODUCTION

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL),

FRN: 0004954970, is applying for these special temporary authorizations (STA) pursuant

to Part 5 of the Commission’s Rules for work under a military contract. Attachments 1

and 2 are letters confirming to FCC that this work is part of such a contract. This

program is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) “Advanced RF

Mapping (RadioMap)”.

The reason for 2 separate applications is to speed processing:

• 0509-EX-ST-2014 deals with frequencies that only have non-federal government
(NG) allocations and thus appear to be subject solely to FCC review. We request
quick turnaround, if possible, so we can commence the many coordinations that are
needed with NG licensees to seek their consent.

• 0480-EX-ST-2014 deals with frequencies that are shared with federal (G)
allocations and thus appear to need coordination with NTIA. Included in this
second application is also a request for very limited use of the FIRSTNET 700 MHz
spectrum that is subject to special coordination.

The following table summarizes the frequencies requested:

File Number File Number
0509-EX-ST-2014 0480-EX-ST-2014
470 – 608 MHz 608 - 614 MHz
614 - 758 MHz 758 - 768 MHz
768 - 788 MHz 788 - 798 MHz
798 - 902 MHz 902 - 928 MHz

1

Thus we are seeking very limited access to 470 – 928 MHz, as described below, for

a test of a new passive system that is being developed – RadioMap.

WHAT IS RADIOMAP?

Three
problems
facing
different
user
communities
motivate
this
research:

• Spectrum managers, and Dynamic Spectrum Access systems that perform automatic
spectrum management functions, lack real-time awareness of spectrum usage
variations across frequency, geography, and time. This reduces the efficiency of
spectrum allocation and sharing, and thus reduces the total achieved mission benefit
from the RF spectrum.
• Small tactical units such as platoons or companies rarely have Electronic
Warfare/Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (EW/ISR) capability. A
system that provides RF situational awareness and the ability to control the
immediate RF environment as needed will offer significant benefits for mission
effectiveness and force protection.
• EW and ISR coverage is limited in some operational contexts by the high cost of
current EW/ISR systems and platforms. An affordable system that provides broad
coverage to cue and support the more focused high-capability EW/ISR systems
would offer significant value.

The
vision
of
the
Advanced
RF
Mapping
program
(RadioMap)
is
that
these

problems
can
be
solved
if
deployed
RF
devices
support
RF
situational
awareness

and
other
EW/ISR
functions
in
addition
to
and
without
harm
to
their
primary

mission.
In
particular,
flexible
and
tunable
devices
such
as
software-‐defined
tactical

radios
can
offer
high
benefits
through
their
ability
to
perform
a
range
of
scanning,

monitoring,
and
transmission
functions.
Employing
existing
RF
devices
will
reduce

the
cost
and
delay
of
deploying
new
networked
EW/ISR
functions
while
making

EW/ISR
functions
more
widely
available
on
the
battlefield.

2

The
primary
goal
of
the
present
funding
opportunity
is
research
on
RF

situational
awareness
oriented
towards
addressing
the
problems
of
the
three
user

communities
described
above.
1

Johns
Hopkins
University
Applied
Physics
Laboratory
(JHU/APL)
is

supporting
DARPA
in
this
program.

They
will
be
conducting
testing
of
RadioMap

systems
developed
by
two
contractors.

A
STA
is
needed
to
produce
test
signals

that
will
be
used
to
assess
the
performance
of
the
two
system
implementations.
This

testing
is
planned
to
take
place
in
Arlington
County,
Virginia
during
the
month
of

August
2014.

During
this
test
period
a
variety
of
short
transmissions
are
needed

to
verify
the
capability
of
the
prototype
systems
to
detect
selected
signal
types.

A

more
limited
brief
demonstration
is
expected
in
October
for
military
observers.

UNUSUAL
NATURE
OF
EXPERIMENT
LIMITS
INTERFERENCE
RISK

The
Radiomap
technology
is
a
purely
passive
system.

The
testing
of
this

technology
requires
controlled
testing
which
incorporates
a
set
of
brief
test
signals

in
the
operating
area
over
the
operating
frequency
range
that
are
known
to
the

evaluators
but
unknown
to
the
prototype
operators.

This
STA
deals
with
the

authorization
to
transmit
those
brief
test
signals.
There
is
no
intention
of
the

applicant
or
its
sponsor
to
seek
long
term
access
to
this
spectrum
for
this
program.

It
is
anticipated
that
testing
will
involve
only
5
days
over
the
period
of
the

proposed
STA
and
that
about
10
frequencies
are
needed
for
short
transmissions
of

1
Defense
Advanced
Research
Projects
Agency
(DARPA),
Strategic
Technology

Office
Broad
Agency
Announcement,
“Advanced
RF
Mapping
(RadioMap)”,
DARPA
–

BAA-‐
12-‐26,
February
29,
2012.

(https:

//www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=6abd9ba7e59f6aab73a3a963a9822229

3

less
than
10
minutes
each
day.
Most
frequencies
will
be
only
needed
for
3
days,
one

setup
day,
and
a
2
days
of
testing
for
a
given
prototype
system.

Different

frequencies
will
be
used
for
each
prototype
to
ensure
fair
testing.

A
few
narrow

band
channels
will
be
needed
for
an
additional
2
days
of
demonstrations
late
in
the

STA
period,
thus
some
narrow
band
channels
will
be
needed
for
a
total
of
5
days

although
their
use
will
be
limited
to
less
than
10
minutes/day.

While
we
are
applying
for
a
10W
transmitter
power,
we
expect
to
keep
most

transmission
to
less
than
1W.

The
higher
power
is
required
for
signals
with

bandwidths
up
to
10MHz.

The
lower
power
is
required
for
signals
less
than
or

equal
to
50
kHz
bandwidth.

DURATION OF OPERATION
We are requesting an STA that covers the period 7/1/2014 to 11/30/2014. The

reason for this duration is to cover the testing period and any unexpected program delays.

Our present plans are to conduct testing for 5 days in August on all frequencies where

we can obtain coordination. 2 additional days of tests/demonstrations in October will be

conducted for military observers. These tests will use a smaller group of frequencies

with simpler coordination requirements.

For the 5 day test period, each frequency will only be used on 3 days and each use

will only be 15 minutes at various power levels. This is summarized below in Table 1:

4

Test Frequencies Duration

1st Test 20 channels needed <15 minutes/channel/day
Nominal date – 8/14 both narrow band and 3 days for each channel
broadband
2nd Test 10 channels needed <15 minutes/channel/day
Nominal date - 10/14 mainly narrowband 2 days for each channel
Table 1: Frequency access that is sought for the test

COORDINATION
WITH
PRIMARY
USERS

The
frequency
band
of
interest
in
470-‐928
MHz.

We
request
that
the
STAs

cover
that
entire
bandwidth
and
expect
that
the
license
be
conditioned
on

coordination
with
any
incumbent
licensee
that
might
be
affected
by
these

transmissions.

We
agree
with
such
a
condition
and
have
already
initiated
contacts

with
representatives
of
primary
users.

In
our
discussions
with
primary
users
we
will
consider
the
possibility
of
real

time
coordination
during
the
tests
for
frequencies
that
are
part
of
continuously
used

systems.

That
is
we
will
offer
to
confer
with
the
primary
user
in
real
time
to

confirm
the
channel
is
free
and
is
expected
to
be
free
for
the
required
10
minutes.

We
will
also
be
willing
to
stay
in
contact
during
the
10
minutes
of
emissions
and

vacate
immediately
if
the
frequency
is
needed.

AREA
OF
OPERATION

While
we
are
applying
for
a
circular
license
area
for
our
mobile
test
signals
to

meet
the
limits
of
the
application
process,
we
will
not
be
using
the
whole
circular

5

DURATION OF OPERATIONS
We are requesting an STA that covers the period 7/1/2014 to 11/30/2014. The

reason for this duration is to cover the testing and demonstration dates and any

unexpected program delays. Our present plans are for 5 days of tests in August on all

frequencies where we can obtain coordination and an additional 2 days of testing in

October for demonstration to US military observers. The military demonstration

will use a smaller group of frequencies with simpler coordination requirements.

STOP BUZZER and Contact Information

During the period of operation of these tests, the following phone number can be

used as a “STOP BUZZER” in order to order an immediate cessation of transmissions:

443-928-9004

APL contact during test is Steve Jones, Steven.Jones@jhuapl.edu; Office:240-228-

6349 Mobile: 443-928-9004

Contact for matters concerning STA application and review: Michael Marcus,

mjmarcus@marcus-spectrum.com, Office 301-229-7714 Mobile: 301-980-3563

7

Document Created: 1150-02-22 00:00:00
Document Modified: 1150-02-22 00:00:00

© 2025 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC