Radio Spectrum Measurement Sciences (RSMS) Program - ITS
Source: https://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/research/rfm/rsms-program
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Radio Spectrum Measurement Sciences (RSMS) Program - ITS
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Research
Radio Frequency Measurement
Radio Spectrum Measurement
Spectrum Monitoring
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
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Research
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Radio Frequency Measurement
/ Radio Spectrum Measurement
ITS’s Radio Spectrum Measurement Sciences (RSMS) program builds on 100 years of research in radio frequency (RF) measurements to develop, implement, and disseminate best practices for capturing accurate radio frequency measurements. The expertise and capabilities cultivated in the RSMS program support the NTIA and other federal agencies by developing and maintaining the Institute’s ability to perform critical, time-sensitive RF measurements for purposes including:
Spectrum and channel usage surveys and monitoring
Equipment characterization and compliance
Interference resolution and electromagnetic compatibility
Signal coverage and quality
Spectrum surveys and spectrum monitoring measure and analyze the geographic and temporal distribution of RF signals within a spectrum band and provide empirical data to help determine which RF bands are good candidates for sharing in space or time.
Spectrum surveys span multiple frequency ranges, last for one or more months, and measure spectrum occupancy, or the percentage of time that RF spectrum is being used within a given geographic area.
Spectrum monitoring
produces long-term, continuous observations of occupancy within a particular band from multiple sensors, provides real-time information about the use of a narrow range of frequencies across broad geographic areas, and enables observation of historical trends and events. If a band is unused within an area, then geographic sharing of that band is possible. If band occupancy is low, then that band is a candidate for sharing; a newcomer system could use the band when it is unoccupied by incumbent systems.
NTIA's Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) and ITS’s other federal agency partners leverage RSMS expertise and capabilities to prevent and, if necessary, resolve interference problems involving federal systems. ITS’s body of knowledge is applied to troubleshooting incidents of interference between systems and existing capabilities are tailored to specific situations.
ITS work in these areas is transferred to the broader research community through reimbursable research partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and OSM, among others.
Skip to main content
↑ Back to top
The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
The site is secure.
The
https://
ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
ITS Home
Research
Radio Frequency Measurement
Radio Spectrum Measurement
Spectrum Monitoring
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
/
Research
/
Radio Frequency Measurement
/ Radio Spectrum Measurement
ITS’s Radio Spectrum Measurement Sciences (RSMS) program builds on 100 years of research in radio frequency (RF) measurements to develop, implement, and disseminate best practices for capturing accurate radio frequency measurements. The expertise and capabilities cultivated in the RSMS program support the NTIA and other federal agencies by developing and maintaining the Institute’s ability to perform critical, time-sensitive RF measurements for purposes including:
Spectrum and channel usage surveys and monitoring
Equipment characterization and compliance
Interference resolution and electromagnetic compatibility
Signal coverage and quality
Spectrum surveys and spectrum monitoring measure and analyze the geographic and temporal distribution of RF signals within a spectrum band and provide empirical data to help determine which RF bands are good candidates for sharing in space or time.
Spectrum surveys span multiple frequency ranges, last for one or more months, and measure spectrum occupancy, or the percentage of time that RF spectrum is being used within a given geographic area.
Spectrum monitoring
produces long-term, continuous observations of occupancy within a particular band from multiple sensors, provides real-time information about the use of a narrow range of frequencies across broad geographic areas, and enables observation of historical trends and events. If a band is unused within an area, then geographic sharing of that band is possible. If band occupancy is low, then that band is a candidate for sharing; a newcomer system could use the band when it is unoccupied by incumbent systems.
NTIA's Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) and ITS’s other federal agency partners leverage RSMS expertise and capabilities to prevent and, if necessary, resolve interference problems involving federal systems. ITS’s body of knowledge is applied to troubleshooting incidents of interference between systems and existing capabilities are tailored to specific situations.
ITS work in these areas is transferred to the broader research community through reimbursable research partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and OSM, among others.