David J. Cohen; Paul C. Roosa Jr.; Robert J. Matheson; David E. Kitzmiller; Gary M. Patrick

Abstract: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the fall of 1992 was required by Congress to develop and commence implementation of a plan for Federal agencies to use wireless mobile technologies that are spectrum efficient and cost effective. In response, NTIA performed an analysis of the current Federal land mobile infrastructure with respect to spectrum efficiency and cost effectiveness. This report documents the analysis, its results and conclusions, and an implementation plan with recommended milestones.

The report includes a summary of Federal land mobile requirements and techniques such as Simplex, Repeater, Trunking, Cellular, and Emerging Wireless Technologies. The benefits of rechannelization, trunking, and other technical methods to improve spectrum utilization are explained and their spectrum efficiency advantages are quantified. Methods to introduce cost effectiveness are also introduced. One of these methods is to exploit the economy of scope that exists, for example, if the cost of a single network is less than the cost of several individual networks. Policy and regulatory methods that NTIA could use to implement the plan presented in this report include Federal use of commercial vendor services (whenever feasible), and the use of shared systems among government agencies.

Keywords: land mobile radio; spectrum efficiency; Rechannelization; Trunking Radio; spectrum economics; spatial frequency reuse

To request a reprint of this report, contact:

Ed Drocella, Chief,
Spectrum Engineering and Analysis Division
Office of Spectrum Management
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(202) 482-1652
edrocella@ntia.gov

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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