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Summary

The recent introduction of Recognised Spectrum Access (RSA) for radio astronomy and administered incentive pricing ( AIP) has led to the lifting of constraints on use by other services in various frequency bands as described in this report. In some bands this will allow existing geographical exclusion zones to be lifted. In others, it will open the possibility for permitting more services to use the band.

The new regulatory framework will also provide greater assurance and certainty to the radio astronomy community for access to radio spectrum and will offer greater flexibility to radio astronomers/Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in terms of adjusting their future spectrum requirements.

Following public consultation in 2005, Ofcom made the first RSA regulations on 14 February 2007 which came into force on 8 March 2007. This is part of a programme for reforming how the public sector manages spectrum in the UK[^(-1-)]. Ofcom subsequently received six RSA grant applications from the STFC. STFC is a non-departmental public body, which supports radio astronomy activities in the UK. Ofcom have since issued six RSA grants to STFC covering six UK radio astronomy sites.

The introduction of RSA & Administrative Incentive Pricing (AIP) charges resulted in the release of spectrum and removal or reduction of constraints on other services in a number of bands shared with radio astronomy. This was undertaken in consultation with radio astronomers and STFC to ensure that there is no impact on UK radio astronomy research.

Ofcom has now updated its frequency assignment processes to remove coordination/exclusion zones where these are no longer required by STFC funded radio astronomy research in the UK. Ofcom is also considering the potential for alternative use of the band 10.6-10.68 GHz as this band is no longer required for radio astronomy research by STFC in the UK.

Radio astronomy RSA is non-tradable at present. We are currently consulting[^(-2-)] on proposals to allow selected RSA bands to be traded.

Following the introduction of RSA grants to STFC, Ofcom will propose an update to the electronic version of UK FAT (Frequency Allocation Table) on its website including revision of Annex D, which details the locations and list of frequencies for the STFC funded radio astronomy sites.

Footnotes:

1.- See www.spectrumaudit.org.uk

2.- See www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/sfrps08/

The full document is available below

• Recognised Spectrum Access as applied to Radio Astronomy - A report on introduction of RSA for Radio Astronomy and released spectrum [pdf]
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