Commerce Technical Advisory Board

Abstract:

Most people know that radio, television, long distance telephone, radar, police radio, etc., play important roles in their daily lives. Hany of the more thoughtful are aware that telecommunication services are important, indeed essential, participants in all facets of the growth of our nation and even of our civilization. Relatively few, the technically inclined, know that telecommunications depend on a national resource -- the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; a technical concept which put the word "wireless" into our vocabulary.

The electromagnetic spectrum has become a silent partner vital to all our national enterprises. If it were suddenly to disappear we would have calamitous confusion and would have to retrogress many aspects of our society by as much as half a century before we could begin to function as a nation again. It is doubtful if anyone fully comprehends either the full impact on modern society or the interactions of all the technical, economic, social, and political complexities of our silent partner. The select groups who have attempted, during the past forty years, to achieve some level of understanding, have repeatedly warned us that our silent partner is ailing. In recent years the warnings have become more urgent and the symptoms have become more numerous and even obvious to those sectors of our industrial life which need to extend the use of this silent partner for the benefit of their business.

Telecommunications, and hence the demands on the frequency spectrum will continue to grow indefinitely until limited by saturation of all or portions of that spectrum. Only effective planning, based on more knowledge than is now available, will ensure that the nation makes optimum use of this resource. The recognition of the potential threat to the continued growth of the nation led the Chairman of the Commerce Technical Advisory Board, Dr. J. Herbert Hollomon, to establish ad hoc the Telecommunication Science Panel. The study was initiated with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce, with the cooperation of and also for the benefit of the Director of Telecommunications Management (Executive Office of the President), the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Defense. The Panel sought to study the status and trends in the technology and use of the electromagnetic spectrum and to examine various methods of increasing the telecommunication capabilities of the nation through more effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Panel members, who provided a variety of backgrounds, are leaders in the field; several had devoted many years to the development of methods for more effective spectrum utilization.

Keywords: spectrum; electromagnetic

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Funding Information

Performing Agency

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Ave., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230

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.

For questions or information on this or any other NTIA scientific publication, contact the ITS Publications Office at ITSinfo@ntia.gov or 303-497-3572.

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