The President's Broadband Initiative: Impacts Upon NOAA Satellites and Users - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

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

1Slide2

Broadband Initiative – Key EventsPresidential Memorandum published on June 28, 2010Make available 500 [Megahertz] spectrum over the next 10 yearsProvide a specific plan and timetable by Oct 1, 2010Key considerations included:Need to ensure no loss of critical existing and planned government capabilitiesInternational implications Need for appropriate enforcement mechanisms and authoritiesNOAA impacts included satellite, radiosonde, & NEXRAD bandsOffice of Management and Budget (OMB) directed Commerce to conduct a Fast Track Review to identify spectrum which could be available within 5 years1675-1710 MHZ identified as candidate band – NOAA “L-Band”

2Slide3

Broadband Initiative – Key EventsFederal Communications Commission (FCC) invited public commentThe 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, 20103Slide4

Results Impacting NOAA1695-1710 MHz identified for fast-track sharingBoth NOAA and commercial broadband users can use the bandAffects polar satellite direct broadcast – high-resolution picture transmission (HRPT) and other servicesCritical NOAA sites protected by exclusion zones, inside which commercial broadband could not operateHRPT users outside exclusion zones will be vulnerable to interference1675-1695 MHz removed from considerationNo effect upon geostationary satellite direct broadcast servicesModification to the GOES-R communication subsystemRadiosonde redesign required by GOES-R redesignNEXRAD band remains in 10-year study effort

4Slide5

Present-DayFast-track Shared Spectrum

GOES-R &

JPSS

Era: 2016+

Current GOES & Polar

Current



end of life

GOES-15: mid-2020

Polar: 2022 (

MetOp

-C)

6-10 year overlap period when legacy & new are operating

15 MHz Shared

Band Recommended For Fast-Track Sharing

5

Future

“Sharing” will be implemented with goal of preventing harmful interference between government & commercial sectorsSlide6

Designated Exclusion Zones6

POES

HRPT

Sites Identified By ArrowsSlide7

Example of Imagery Interference7NOAA-18: Interference FreeNOAA-16: 2 hrs later – InterferenceSlide8

FCC Public Notice ResponsesOver 220 received – Federal agencies not allowed to respondState & local governmentsFirst-responder organizationsUniversities supporting NWSMajor telecoms who would benefit from the auctionNumerous foreign partners and intergovernmental organizations (WMO, EUMETSAT)Montana Governor & both Delaware U.S. senatorsResponses overwhelmingly negative from all sourcesBroadband company issuesFrequency range not adjacent to band they already occupySharing won’t work – government needs to vacate band before they would consider using the L-bandNot compatible with rest-of-world standards

8Slide9

Unprotected Polar Satellite Data Users Over 160 registered U.S. users and over 600 foreign users State, local, & tribal governments; universities; fishing & aviation sectors; mediaCommon locations: coastal areas; regions prone to severe weather, fires or floodsEssential 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-responseUsers outside exclusion zones facing significantly-increased risk of interference resulting in loss of critical real-time productsPolar direct broadcast cannot be replaced by terrestrial distributionNo capability on spacecraft to store high-resolution imagery for later downlinkInterference and lack of exclusion zones results in permanent loss of imagery and critical real-time products

9Slide10

Next StepsConduct technical analyses to fully understand impacts to operationsAdjacent band interference around key sites, especially WallopsAtmospheric ducting along coastlines – Wallops is vulnerableResults may show that L-Band must be relocated from DC areaContinue user outreach initiativesEncouraging user to provide views to FCC and othersAMS – 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

10Slide11

ReferencesPresidential Broadband Initiative:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-unleashing-wireless-broadband-revolutionFast-track Recommendation Report:http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/2010/FastTrackEvaluation_11152010.pdfTen-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

11Slide12

Questions?12Slide13

Panel DiscussionMembers represent diverse L-Band communityNational Telecommunications and Information AdministrationNOAA Satellite Operations FacilityDirect readout usersInternational – WMO and Environment CanadaDomestic – Louisiana State UniversityDirect readout equipment company Goals & objectivesProvide details about what will happen nextDiscuss NOAA and user operational needs & concernsSolicit & discuss ideas for future L-Band operations

13