The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has agreed to support the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Spectrum Innovation Initiative by signing a memorandum of agreement with NSF and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Under the agreement, FCC personnel will provide its subject matter expertise to help NSF align the initiative’s investments in spectrum research, workforce development and infrastructure with U.S. spectrum policy and regulatory objectives and strategies, FCC said Monday.
FCC will also work with NSF and NTIA to establish the country’s first National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research through the initiative.
NSF introduced the program in 2020 to advance spectrum research and development efforts with a focus on key research areas, including real-time spectrum awareness, spectrum agility and flexibility and spectrum efficiency through autonomous and secure decision-making.
Sean Jones, assistant director for mathematical and physical sciences at NSF, said the Spectrum Innovation Initiative seeks to identify ways to maximize the country’s limited radio spectrum resources.
“This agreement will provide enhanced access to NTIA and FCC expertise, helping us focus spectrum research and develop a technologically sophisticated workforce at the speed this nation requires to stay at the forefront of innovation,” Jones added.
