The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) unveiled its National Spectrum Research and Development (R&D) Plan on Oct. 9 to serve as a tool to guide government decisions on spectrum-related research, shape private sector efforts, and provide a shared reference for stakeholders.
The document comes nearly one year after the Biden administration released its National Spectrum Strategy, which calls for “improving collective understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum through coordinated, focused, and sophisticated” R&D.
According to OSTP, the overall goal of the 50-page document is to ensure continued U.S. leadership in spectrum R&D.
Specifically, the plan identifies opportunities for spectrum-related R&D in four categories:
- Innovation areas for use-inspired research;
- Innovation areas for fundamental research;
- Research accelerators; and
- Organizational improvements.
The Wireless Spectrum Research and Development Interagency Working Group of the Networking and IT R&D program developed the plan on behalf of OSTP.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) was pivotal in creating the National Spectrum R&D Plan, co-chairing the working group with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and contributing expertise and guidance on key research areas.
The plan authoring team also included members from various U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
“The innovation areas and organizational improvements detailed in the National Spectrum R&D Plan will offer research opportunities across multiple disciplines, from communications and networking to economics and policy,” NSF said in a press release. “The cross-disciplinary nature of spectrum R&D will also pave the way for new commercialization pathways, offering industry leaders a blueprint to develop next-generation wireless technologies.”
The agency continued, “Furthermore, the work described in the plan will improve data-driven decision-making and international cooperation to enhance U.S. competitiveness in the global spectrum landscape.”
