Programs

Registration of Radio Astronomy Stations

Introduction

By international agreement the radio spectrum is divided into many blocks, each of which is allocated to one or more of some forty radio services, defined in the Radio Regulations. Radio Astronomy is one of these radio services. In the United States of America, a further distinction is made between blocks of spectrum used by the Federal Government and by the private sector. Most blocks are allocated for joint government and non-government use; some are reserved solely for use by the Federal Government and some solely by the private sector. Radio astronomy allocations are always shared between the Government and the private sector.

Within the jurisdiction of the U.S., the use of the spectrum for radio transmissions below 300 GHz must be authorized. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a Bureau of the Department of Commerce regulates Government uses of the spectrum, and the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) regulates private sector uses. Users of the spectrum must register active transmitters through one of these two agencies. The NTIA maintains the Government Master File (GMF), which contains the particulars of all government stations and of those private-sector stations that operate in shared government and non-government bands. The FCC has sole jurisdiction over bands used exclusively by the private sector, such as the TV or FM radio bands.

Radio astronomy stations are not required to be registered, but may do so if they wish. Institutions supported directly by the Federal government (e.g. Arecibo Observatory, the NRAO, or antennas used for radio astronomy purposes in NASA's Deep Space Network) are considered Government users for purposes of spectrum management and must apply for registration through the supporting Government Agency (NSF or NASA). University observatories that are not directly controlled by the Federal Government (even if they are supported by grants) are considered private sector institutions and must apply for registration through the FCC.

Advantages of Registration

Registration of passive stations is recommended, as it offers several advantages:

• Protection from harmful interference when observations are conducted in bands allocated to the Radio Astronomy Service. The U.S. Table of Allocation may be accessed at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/redbook/ch4.pdf

• Listing in the GMF, which allows a radio astronomy observatory to be taken into account by those planning to establish new transmitters in its vicinity.

• Listing in the GMF also allows measuring spectrum usage by various services. This is particularly important for radio astronomy and other passive services, not readily noticeable to active users of the spectrum by other means.

• While radio astronomy stations may be registered for observations outside bands allocated to radio astronomy, such registration DOES NOT provide rights to protection against harmful interference from other services.

Where to Register?

Radio observatories supported by the NSF should register radio astronomy stations through the:

Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 703-292-4896
FAX: 703-292-9034
E-mail: tgergely@nsf.gov

Other government-supported observatories must register through the Spectrum Management offices of their respective agencies.

Private sector users (e.g. university or high school observatories) may register through the FCC. They should contact:

Mr. Frank Wright
FAS Representative
Federal Communications Commission Office of Engineering and Technology
2000 M St., NW, Suite 230
Washington, D. C. 20554
Phone: 202-418-2411/12
FAX: 202-418-1918
E-mail: fwright@fcc.gov

OR

Mr. Jeffrey Kam
Alternate FAS Representative
Federal Communications Commission Office of Engineering and Technology
2000 M St., NW, Suite 230
Washington, D. C. 20554
Phone: 202-418-2413
FAX: 202-418-1918
E-mail: jkam@fcc.gov

How to Register?

All applicants must submit certain data and the applications must follow an established format. The Manual of Regulations & Procedures for Federal Frequency Management, Chapter 9.

Describes in detail the data and format required to submit an application. A separate application is required for each receiver.

CORF Notification

The Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) of the National Academy of Sciences maintains a list of radio observatories around the world. All applicants for registration please notify the Committee by email at: bpa@nas.edu.