The relationship between the U.S. and international spectrum management structures is shown as Figure C-1. The figure depicts two paths. One is the technical path where studies of radio matters are conducted; the other depicts the preparations within the United States leading to a Radiocommunication Conference.

Conference preparation follows the flow as shown in Figure C-1. NASA, as well as other Federal agencies, inputs proposals to the IRAC Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS). Upon approval within the RCS, proposals are then coordinated with the FCC Advisory Committee for acceptance by the private sector. In a similar fashion private sector proposals are coordinated through the RCS for approval by the Government sector. Jointly approved proposals are then put on public notice for comment before going through the U.S. Department of State for submission to the conferences.

Significant technical interests for NASA are in the Study Group and its associated Working Parties concerned with the space science services (Study Group 7 and Working Party 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E), which support U.S. civil and commercial space programs (See Figure C-2). In general, technical studies of current interest are supplied to the United States Study Group or cognizant Working Party by member agencies. When approved by the Study Group, or Working Party, they are forwarded to the National Committee for national policy review prior to being submitted to Radiocommunication Assemblies or to a special conference preparation study group. The results of these studies provide the technical bases for Radiocommunication Conferences.

In addition to the space sciences services, NASA also contributes to the work of Study Group 3 (Radiowave Propagation), Study Group 4 (Fixed-Satellite Service), Study Group 6 (Broadcasting Services, Study Group 8 (Mobile, Radiodetermination, Amateur and Related Satellite Services), and Study Group 9 (Fixed Service) to assist the commercial industry in better meeting the long-term communications requirements of the Agency, as well as to protect and promote Agency use of allocated frequency bands.

Figure C-1 National and International Spectrum Interfaces

Figure C-2 National Radiocommunication Study Group 7 Structure