SSRF Spectrum Supportability Process

The spectrum supportability process facilitates the timely provision of information leading to compatible systems that use the electromagnetic spectrum in support of national needs and coalition missions. It allows the Developing/Procuring Authority (DPA) to assess, with a certain degree of confidence, whether the electromagnetic spectrum necessary to support the operation of a Spectrum Dependent System (SDS) or Signal Description (SD) is, or will be, available.

The best approach to reduce the risk of spectrum non-compliance in an acquisition or development project is to conduct a Spectrum Supportability analysis early in the process. This analysis should include, as a minimum, assessments of the Electro-Magnetic Environment (EME) (what other systems are expected to co-operate in the same general location); planned operating locations; host nation regulations and processes; and future plans for worldwide allocations. Ideally, no SDS shall be purchased or procured without such a spectrum supportability determination. Failure to consider spectrum issues early enough in the process may result in program delays, additional costs, less than full operational capability, or in the worst-case useless systems that cannot be employed and deployed for combat operations. A summary of the Spectrum Supportability process is illustrated below

Use Case Diagram for Spectrum Supportability

The Spectrum Supportability Process derives from DoD Directive (DoDD) 4650.1 (2004) and its reissuance as DoD Instruction 4650.01 (2009). These documents describe Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides instructions for management and use of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Spectrum Supportability Process can be described in three stages:

1. Information pull: The process where Development/Procurement Authorities (DPAs) responsibly research existing information resources in an attempt to identify the best spectrum based on the combination of desired performance characteristics and potentially available spectrum and the best existing spectrum dependant technology to satisfy a capability gap. Information pull is not mandatory but by doing so early in the procurement life cycle, the DPA will be able to mitigate potential risks before they become critical to the success of a product.

2. Spectrum Dependent System (SDS) Submission: This is the formal submission (using the SSRequest dataset) of a new or modified SDS (TxRx) to the potential HN for supportability.

   SSRequests will be processed using the appropriate and approved supportability channels. At this point in the process the HN is receiving Spectrum Supportability Request with attached TxRx data about a specific piece of equipment(s) and/or associated antenna data. The submitting nation or organization should submit all information needed to support its anticipated training and/or operational requirements in the Host Nation. The Host Nation provides a response in the form of an SSReply.

3. Host Nation Declaration (HND): This is the response (using the SSReply dataset) provided by the HN to the submission of an SDS. When an HN has provided a declaration for an SDS, the declaration will be applicable until the supportability period has expired, the HND is revised by the HN, or the guest nation submits a revised SSRequest.

Activity Diagram for the Spectrum Supportability Process

The Spectrum Supportability business process described here is in line with the policy described in Allied Communication Publication (ACP) 190 U.S. Supplement 1 and DoDD 4650.1.

SSRequest contains all parameters describing the system and its usage, for which Spectrum Supportability is being requested.

Sub-Elements are Configuration, DiagramEndpoint, DiagramLine, HostNation, Nomenclature, POCInformation, Project, RelatedSupportability, Stage, StatusLog, Time, Trunking

SSRequest Data Object

Example:

<SSRequest cls="U">
  <Serial cls="U">USA::SR:123</Serial>
  <EntryDateTime cls="U">2011-12-25T00:00:00Z</EntryDateTime>
  <Title cls="U">MIDS LVT</Title>
  <Configuration>
    <ConfigID cls="U">LOW VOLUME</ConfigID>
    <TxRef>
      <Serial cls="U">USA::TX:555</Serial>
    </TxRef>
  </Configuration>
</SSRequest>

See the OpenSSRF Javadoc for more details.

SSReply is the XML root for all parameters of a Host Nation Declaration of Spectrum Supportability. It inherits attributes and sub-elements from element Common.

Sub-Elements are CommentSource, Configuration, StageLocation

SSReply Data Object

Example:

<SSReply cls="U">
  <Serial cls="U">FRA::HD:123</Serial>
  <EntryDateTime cls="U">2012-02-25T00:00:00Z</EntryDateTime>
  <SSRequestRef cls="U">USA::SR:123</SSRequestRef>
  <ReplyingCountry cls="U">FRA</ReplyingCountry>
  <SupportabilityCode cls="U">Supported with Restrictions</SupportabilityCode>
  <EffectiveDate cls="U">2012-02-25</EffectiveDate>
  <CommentSource>
    <Source cls="U">CAA</Source>
    <Comment idx="1" cls="U">IAW frequency clearance agreement FR MoD/FR CAA.</
    Comment>
  </CommentSource>
</SSReply>
            

See the OpenSSRF Javadoc for more details.