Protecting scientific uses of the radio spectrum: Release of the National Academies' Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) WRC-2027 report

[Phil Erickson]

To the HamSCI community - 

Please note the announcement below from the National Academies' CORF committee, charged with protecting US scientific use of the radio spectrum.  (I am a member of CORF for the moment but will be rotating off mid-summer after 6 years of service.)

73

Phil W1PJE

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Access to radio frequencies is essential for a range of scientific measurements, from those made by satellites enabling weather prediction to groundbreaking astronomical observations.

As demands for spectrum access increase, a new National Academies’ report discusses actions needed to protect critical scientific uses of the radio spectrum in advance of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027.

Download the report: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/views-on-the-world-radiocommunication-conference-2027

The National Academies’ Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) protects scientific use of the radio spectrum and represents the interests of U.S. scientists in frequency allocations for remote sensing, radio astronomy, and space science. Learn more and sign up for updates at https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/committee-on-radio-frequencies.  

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Phil Erickson
phil.e...@gmail.com

[Ward Silver]

Thanks, Phil - protection of weak-signal and research frequency bands was a big part of my comments to the FCC in March.

73, Ward N0AX

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[Angel M. Vazquez]

Hi Phil,

 Had a meeting with NSF and FCC about the PRCZ which still protects the Radio Astronomy bands, now under NRAO management. It was great to hear that everyone is on board for another extension. 

Greenbank NRQZ still going strong!!

Vy 73,

Ángel WP3R

Angel M. Vazquez WP3R

Puerto Rico Coordination Zone

Program Administrator

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Charlottesville, Virginia

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From: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Phil Erickson <phil.e...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 6:17:38 PM
To: Unknown <ham...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [HamSCI] Protecting scientific uses of the radio spectrum: Release of the National Academies' Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) WRC-2027 report

 

[Phil Erickson]

Hi Angel,

Yes, the NSF Electromagnetic Spectrum Management office (Ashley, Jonathan, John) is very active. Both the NRQZ and PRCZ have never been up for elimination in any of my discussions, although as you know NRAO is working with its neighbors to make sure 911 and public safety systems can work even near the Observatory.

73

Phil W1PJE

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Phil Erickson
phil.e...@gmail.com

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[Angel M. Vazquez]

Hi Phil,

Exactly who I spoke to. (Incredible that I’ve known Ashley since she was summer student in Arecibo 😂)

73, 

Angel

Angel M. Vazquez WP3R

Puerto Rico Coordination Zone

Program Administrator

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Charlottesville, Virginia

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From: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Phil Erickson <phil.e...@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 9:33:30 PM
To: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [HamSCI] Protecting scientific uses of the radio spectrum: Release of the National Academies' Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) WRC-2027 report

 

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[emuman100]

Hi Phil,

I was wondering, how much of an up-hill battle is it to have the VLF spectrum protected, specifically the natural radio band up to 10 kHz? It seems like it would be a monumental task, not only with lack of compliance to Part 15, but also since there is so much out of our control in terms of interference as compared to other bands. Also, below 8.3 kHz is completely unallocated and unregulated, so I always saw it as a big hill to climb, and not just by one person. What do you think?

Thanks.

Jonathan

[Phil Erickson]

Hi Jonathan

  Nice to hear from you.  Unfortunately, any spectrum that is not already protected in the ITU rules (which happened decades ago) is functionally impossible to add for passive or active scientific work.  CORF spends 100% of its time trying to defend what is protected from further erosion.  There is absolutely zero chance of adding anything, alas.  Also, active sensors (e.g. ionospheric radars) are maintained by specific licenses for their transmissions - e.g. government primary radar bands - and do not get licensed as protection for scientific uses.

73

Phil W1PJE

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[Flavio Jorge]

Dear colleagues,

I'm not very active in the exchange, please accept my apologies. But I did note this one, and I'm happy to see we know some common colleagues, like Ashley who I have been working with in the past years. We even organised together RFI conference (https://rficonference.com) last year.

After I have joined our HamSCI community back in 2017, I engaged with spectrum management world and have been very active on this subject since then (www.linkedin.com/in/fmjorge).

If there is the need to identify spectrum for science uses, or any other use, while such spectrum is not yet allocated, that can be done. That is actually on the table for WRC-27 (e.g. AI 1.8: Studies on possible new additional allocations to the radiolocation service on a primary basis in the frequency range 231.5-275 GHz, and possible new identifications for radiolocation service applications in frequency bands within the frequency range 275-700 GHz) and for WRC-31 (e.g. PAI 2.1: Potential new allocations to the fixed, mobile, radiolocation, amateur, amateur-satellite, radio astronomy, Earth exploration-satellite (passive and active) and space research (passive) services in the frequency range 275-325 GHz in the Table of Frequency Allocations of the Radio Regulations, with the consequential update of Nos. 5.149, 5.340, 5.564A and 5.565).

I have been working alonside science services for the past years and I do understand, however, that science services are always in a weak position w.r.t. bigger industries, but not everything is lost. For example, we managed to get the secondary allocation for spaceborne radar sounders around 45 MHz under WRC-23 AI 1.12 as desired. What one needs is to make a case for its needs and get traction for it.

Best,

Flavio - CT7AQK

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De: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com> em nome de Phil Erickson <phil.e...@gmail.com>
Enviado: 19 de junho de 2025 21:26
Para: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com>
Assunto: Re: [HamSCI] Protecting scientific uses of the radio spectrum: Release of the National Academies' Committee on Radio Frequencies (CORF) WRC-2027 report

 

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[john Campbell]

Flavio - Thank you for taking the time to write.

 What one needs is to make a case for its needs and get traction for it.

You make a good point and all I can say as a “Ham" in the United States for Science and Science Spectrum an avenue /  best venue for an advocacy against the ‘powers-that-be' tends to be our Universities…..who may get funding from the same people but do pure science, electromagnetic spectrum research.  And get funding elsewhere too.

The Universities in the United States do perform a lot of research for the Military, so they have spectrum.  The US Military gets what they want. In the US at least.

I am obtuse so I am not sure what more specifically you wer looking for ? 

 In Philadelphia there is the University of Pennsylvania.  They have an Engineering School, the Moore School, and an amateur radio club.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore_School_of_Electrical_Engineering

I happen to be an alum of Penn and an alum member of their amateur radio club (W3KZ / W3ABT) and know the Faculty.  M.I.T. does great work as well in the US.  CalTech.  Stanford and many, many others.

Let me know if I can help ?  but my knowledge is limited.  What do you want to happen ?

Best,

John Campbell

W3MHZ (formerly KS3D)

Penn class of 1992

W3KZ / W3ABT

https://w3abt.seas.upenn.edu/history/

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[Flavio Jorge]

Dear John,

Thank you very much for your feedback and prompt availability to be of assistance.

I'm not looking for anything in particular. I just noted this interesting exchange, including Jonathan's and Phil's exchange, and I knew I could provide additional valuable insights to subject of spectrum needs and respective regulatory protection.

Of course, should I be of use to our community, please let me know. I'm also very active with URSI, and I take the chance to let you know that I'm always looking for scientific contributions and/or ideas for collaboration on the subject of spectrum management and utilisation by all radiocommunication services, as well as on RF interference issues.

73,

Flavio - CT7AQK

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De: ham...@googlegroups.com <ham...@googlegroups.com> em nome de john Campbell <jthomas...@gmail.com>
Enviado: 19 de junho de 2025 23:52
Para: 'Kristina Collins' via HamSCI <ham...@googlegroups.com>

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[john Campbell]

Executive Summary = Spectrum is very very valuable…and many people want it.  

Keep the Faith, Flavio !

73,

John

W3MHZ

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