Spectrum Mission & Vision

Mission:

We secure, manage, and protect the necessary radio frequency spectrum resources to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Vision:

We strive to provide superior radio frequency spectrum services and efficiently integrate tomorrow's needs safely into our aerospace system. We work across boundaries to develop innovative solutions for our stakeholders.

• What is Spectrum Engineering?
• Why is Spectrum Engineering Important?

The safe transport of all individual flights between airports is based on radio frequencies being available and interference free so that all of the aviation systems function properly. The FAA's Spectrum Engineering Office provides these fundamental services by ensuring radio frequency assets are always clear and available, both now and in the future.

The Spectrum Engineering & Policy Office secures, manages, and protects all civil aviation radio frequency spectrum resources.

Secures by:

• Coordinating and negotiating with other government agencies, industry, and international partners to obtain appropriate radio spectrum resources for aviation usage.
• Establishing and issuing policy regarding radio frequency allocations and regulations governing the use of civil aviation radio spectrum.
• Developing international and domestic civilian aviation radio spectrum policies and standards.

Manages by:

• Assigning and engineering radio frequencies for the aviation systems.
• Maintaining the aviation radio spectrum use database.
• Analyzing new FAA systems requirements and certifying that radio spectrum resources will provide the technical engineering expertise required.
• Testing new systems and electronic equipment for compatibility with existing NAS systems.

Protects by:

• Conducting Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) investigations.
• Conducting Electromagnetic Frequency Analysis.
• Coordinating with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to enforce the laws against unauthorized broadcast within the aviation protected radio frequencies.
• Ensuring radio spectrum compatibility and deconfliction between federal and non-federal radio systems.
• Coordinating with the DoD, DOJ, DHS, DOE, and impacted FAA Lines of Businesses to safely support Electronic Attack and countermeasure testing, training, and real-world operations.

The management and regulation of the use of radio frequencies is becoming more complex as technology rapidly expansions and as demand for wireless applications (cell phones and wireless broadband) continues to soar. At the same time, the safety of operating aviation systems remains of paramount importance. The Spectrum Engineering Office protects the National Airspace System from any potential sources of interference from new wireless systems.