DOD Sponsored Area Frequency Coordinators

(AFCs)

Purpose  To explain AFC roles, objectives and responsibilities, as

they apply to military units and identify the six DoD AFCs and their Areas of Responsibility (AOR)

 

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Overview

AFC Roles and Objectives AFC Coordination AFC Responsibilities AFC Relationship to RCC/FMG AFC Offices

AFC POCs/AFC AORs AFC Challenges Summary

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AFC Roles and Objectives

In accordance with ACP 190D, Annex B as well as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management, Army, Navy and Air Force Instructions and other publications provide policy and guidance for spectrum management within DOD and other Federal Agencies

These documents also define areas of responsibility for minimizing electromagnetic interference (EMI) at or within radio line-of-sight of national and service test and training and space launch ranges

They also make DOD AFCs responsible for coordinating ALL Federal Agency frequency use above 420 MHz as well as ALL DOD frequency use within each AFC’s Area of Responsibility

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AFC Roles and Objectives (cont)

The AFCs have the following objectives To provide a radio frequency coordination system and infrastructure

for DOD, national and service test and training ranges and test sites  To minimize harmful interference at, among and within radio line-of-

sight of all DOD national and service test and training ranges and test sites

To ensure compliance of range and range hosted spectrum-dependent systems with all national, federal, joint and departmental spectrum management regulations, policies and procedures

To ensure efficient utilization of the radio frequency spectrum via cooperative use of this resource in support of the DOD mission

To coordinate the spectrum use of all spectrum-dependent systems support RDT&E, as well as operational and training activities, at, among and within radio line-of-sight of DOD, National and service test and training ranges and test sites

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AFC Roles and Objectives (cont)

It should also be noted that in accordance with ACP-190 the AFCs will be the Range liaison with and are responsible for coordination on matters of mutual interest with other military and civil frequency coordination activities

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AFC Coordination

AFCs are authorized to coordinate with all military, Government, and non-Government agencies within their area of responsibility (AOR). Reference NTIA Manual Para 8.3.26

In CONUS, AFCs may, by mutual agreement among military activities within their AOR, arrange for time sharing and technical adjustments of frequency assignments as required to minimize harmful interference and preclude conflicts.

AFCs are required to coordinate on ALL military frequency use, including deployments for emergency use, within an AFC AOR, reference NTIA Manual, Para. 7.3.3 The MAG and AAG also require AFC coordination on the use of their band.

The AFCs will coordinate proposals in the Bands M1435-M1525 and M2360-M2390 with the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) The C Notes and the listed AORs are documented in Para 8.3.17 and Annex D, NTIA Manual.

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AFC Responsibilities

AFCs are responsible for attainment of the objectives noted previously

AFCs are directly responsible to the respective departmental headquarters for administrative purposes and to the MCEB for policy guidance.

AFCs shall advise the Commanders of National or Service Test and Training Ranges and sites of foreseen radio frequency conflicts in proposed and scheduled operations and tests. Resolution of such conflicts is a responsibility of the range commander

AFCs will assist in the elimination of real time harmful electromagnetic interference

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AFC Responsiblities (cont)

Military Departments

OASD (NII)

DISA

Major Commands

DSOFrequency

PanelDoDAFCs State Dept.

Unified Command COCOMs

Installation Spectrum Managers

Joint Spectrum Center

Non Allied Countries

Joint Frequency

Management Office

Service Components

Allied Countries

MCEB

Command or Authority

Administrative Support

JSC Technical Support

Organization ChartUNCLASSIFIED

AFC Responsibilities (cont)

Within the AFC AOR, in the event of a frequency conflict, the AFC will attempt to resolve. If this is not achievable, the AFC will issue a completed report to the MILDEPs of concern for resolution.

AFC can provide guidance in all Spectrum matters for their AOR as they know and understand the overall spectrum within their jurisdiction.

AFCs have the authority to direct emitters in their AOR to be “Silent” for specific periods of time in support of special high priority or high dollar missions

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AFC Relationship to RCC

The AFCs, as a Group, have formed a subcommittee within the Range Commander’s Council/Frequency Management Group (RCC/FMG) Meet twice a year under the charter of the

RCC/FMG Includes membership by the MILDEPs Frequency

Management Offices Addresses range related issues and AFC concerns

Need assistance if formulating definitive DoD policy for AFC management

AFC Offices  There are six DoD AFCs at specified locations throughout

CONUS Army Sponsors two

AFC Arizona AFC White Sands Missile Range

Navy Sponsor one Western AFC

Air Force Sponsors three Eastern AFC Gulf AFC Nellis AFB

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South Western AFC Map

KEYWestern AFCAFC - ArizonaAFC - Nellis AFC – New Mexico (WSMR)

Southeastern AFC Map

GAFC EAFC

AFC Army Offices DoD Area Frequency Coordinator, State of Ariz Area of Responsibility:

State of Arizona

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AFC Army Offices (cont)UNCLASSIFIED

AFC Navy OfficeUNCLASSIFIED

AFC AF OfficeUNCLASSIFIED

AFC AF Office (cont)UNCLASSIFIED

AFC AF Office (cont)UNCLASSIFIED

AFC Challenges Inconsistent AFC Policy; i.e. No Standard AFC

coordination Policy Inconsistent AFC Guidance Lack of coordination between Services/Federal

Agencies Lack of AFC Authority to execute Policy and

Procedure Relocation and selloff of spectrum

Compressing more into less Minimizing RFI amongst all users

Deployed units returning with non-certified equipment Commanders desiring to operate as in theater Equipment has no authorizations to operate in

CONUS

Summary

AFC Roles and Objectives are critical to all DOD and other Federal agency spectrum operations within their AOR

AFCs have insight to all Federal spectrum use in the AOR and can ensure conflicts are reduced or eliminated

AFCs stand ready to assist - get to know the DoD AFC as they are valuable to the effective and efficient processing and management of spectrum requirements. Though sponsored by a Service, they act in a non-partisan manner to support all military service’s requirements

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DoD Western Area Frequency Coordinator

(WAFC)

WAFC Objectives

• Frequency coordination between and around DoD Test Ranges in

California, south of N37* 30’

• Minimize harmful interference to Test Ranges

• Coordinate DoD use of shared spectrum with federal and civilian

users

• Promote DoD Electromagnetic Compatibility Program

• Encourage maximum utilization of the spectrum through cooperative

use of the resource

WAFC Objectives (cont.)

• Coordinate the scheduling of electronic attack test and training

operations

• Verify frequencies are coordinated , scheduled , and de-conflicted in

the AOR

• Assist in eliminating real-time RFI

• Maintain current list of frequency records in area

N 37* 30’

WAFC AOR

What We Deal With Day To Day…

• 11 Bases and 6 major test/training ranges within AOR, 5 major

test/training ranges in adjacent or nearby AFC AORs that can affect

ops within WAFC AOR

• High concentration of DoD and commercial test activities throughout

AOR using L- and S-band

• Large and growing number of UAV operations, heavy utilization of

C- and Ku-band

• Multiple ranges in or around AOR that conduct electronic attack test

and training

I can’t over emphasize the importance of scheduling your op.This guy didn’t…

WAFC POC’s

Discussion

Questions

Proper Coordination Will Prevent Problems