Broadband Initiative – Key Events

1. The President's Broadband Initiative: Impacts Upon NOAA Satellites and UsersPresented to:2011 NOAA Satellite Direct Readout ConferenceMiami, FloridaApril 7, 2011Presented by: Mark MulhollandOffice of Systems DevelopmentNOAA Satellite and Information Service

2. Broadband Initiative – Key Events • Presidential Memorandum published on June 28, 2010 • Make available 500 [Megahertz] spectrum over the next 10 years • Provide a specific plan and timetable by Oct 1, 2010 • Key considerations included: • Need to ensure no loss of critical existing and planned government capabilities • International implications • Need for appropriate enforcement mechanisms and authorities • NOAA impacts included satellite, radiosonde, & NEXRAD bands • Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed Commerce to conduct a Fast Track Review to identify spectrum which could be available within 5 years • 1675-1710 MHZ identified as candidate band – NOAA “L-Band”

3. Broadband Initiative – Key Events • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invited public comment • The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) led a multi-agency study of 21 separate bands • The 10-year plan and the Fast Track Evaluation Report were released on November 15, 2010

4. Results Impacting NOAA • 1695-1710 MHz identified for fast-track sharing • Both NOAA and commercial broadband users can use the band • Affects polar satellite direct broadcast – high-resolution picture transmission (HRPT) and other services • Critical NOAA sites protected by exclusion zones, inside which commercial broadband could not operate • HRPT users outside exclusion zones will be vulnerable to interference • 1675-1695 MHz removed from consideration • No effect upon geostationary satellite direct broadcast services • Modification to the GOES-R communication subsystem • Radiosonde redesign required by GOES-R redesign • NEXRAD band remains in 10-year study effort

5. Fast-track Shared Spectrum Band Recommended For Fast-Track Sharing Current GOES & Polar Current  end of life GOES-15: mid-2020 Polar: 2022 (MetOp-C) Present-Day 6-10 year overlap period when legacy & new are operating 15 MHz Shared Future GOES-R & JPSS Era: 2016+ “Sharing” will be implemented with goal of preventing harmful interference between government & commercial sectors

6. Designated Exclusion Zones POESHRPT Sites Identified By Arrows

7. NOAA-18: Interference Free NOAA-16: 2 hrs later – Interference Example of Imagery Interference

8. FCC Public Notice Responses • Over 220 received – Federal agencies not allowed to respond • State & local governments • First-responder organizations • Universities supporting NWS • Major telecoms who would benefit from the auction • Numerous foreign partners and intergovernmental organizations (WMO, EUMETSAT) • Montana Governor & both Delaware U.S. senators • Responses overwhelmingly negative from all sources • Broadband company issues • Frequency range not adjacent to band they already occupy • Sharing won’t work – government needs to vacate band before they would consider using the L-band • Not compatible with rest-of-world standards

9. Unprotected Polar Satellite Data Users • Over 160 registered U.S. users and over 600 foreign users • State, local, & tribal governments; universities; fishing & aviation sectors; media • Common locations: coastal areas; regions prone to severe weather, fires or floods • Essential public service functions: • Civil aviation flight safety, fishing industry, coastal storm monitoring, hurricane intensity, surge and flooding detection, high-latitude weather forecasting, firefighting, broadcast meteorology, and first-response • Users outside exclusion zones facing significantly-increased risk of interference resulting in loss of critical real-time products • Polar direct broadcast cannot be replaced by terrestrial distribution • No capability on spacecraft to store high-resolution imagery for later downlink • Interference and lack of exclusion zones results in permanent loss of imagery and critical real-time products

10. Next Steps • Conduct technical analyses to fully understand impacts to operations • Adjacent band interference around key sites, especially Wallops • Atmospheric ducting along coastlines – Wallops is vulnerable • Results may show that L-Band must be relocated from DC area • Continue user outreach initiatives • Encouraging user to provide views to FCC and others • AMS – HRPT equipment manufacturers and broadcast firms • NOAA Direct Readout Conference – Miami, April 4-8, 2011 • Initiate GOES-R and radiosondes redesign as soon as possible when funding becomes available • Coordinate with NTIA, who is responsible for working with FCC to formalize exclusion zones • Develop long-term strategy for efficient use of spectrum

11. References • Presidential Broadband Initiative: • http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-unleashing-wireless-broadband-revolution • Fast-track Recommendation Report: • http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2010/FastTrackEvaluation_11152010.pdf • Ten-Year Report: • http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2010/TenYearPlan_11152010.pdf • FCC Public Notice (Proceeding 10-123): • http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?z=zgk6j&name=10-123

12. Questions?

13. Panel Discussion • Members represent diverse L-Band community • National Telecommunications and Information Administration • NOAA Satellite Operations Facility • Direct readout users • International – WMO and Environment Canada • Domestic – Louisiana State University • Direct readout equipment company • Goals & objectives • Provide details about what will happen next • Discuss NOAA and user operational needs & concerns • Solicit & discuss ideas for future L-Band operations