DD Form 1494 Support
A principle goal of the DoD's spectrum management program is to develop and efficiently manage the DoD's use of the spectrum during the frequency allocation, allotment, and assignment processes. Achieving this goal minimizes the potential for interference during the fielding and employment of spectrum dependent equipment and is critical due to significant increases in the use of the available electromagnetic spectrum due to technological advancements and spectrum being reallocated away from military use, or being opened to sharing with commercial use.
DoD acquisition policy states that the funds for the acquisition, research, development, production, purchase, lease, or use of weapon systems, information management systems, electronic warfare (EW) systems, or other systems that require use of the electromagnetic spectrum will not be released by the obligating authority until an application for frequency allocation has been approved.
The frequency allocation process is a spectrum requirement and exists to determine:
- If equipment can operate in spectrum bands per the national and international tables of spectrum allocation; and that
- Equipment being brought into the inventory conforms to applicable spectrum management regulations, directives, standards, and specifications.
The Joint Frequency Panel of the United States Military Communications-Electronics Board (MCEB) reviews the characteristics of RF equipment purchased, or developed, by the DoD. The form currently used to submit systems information to the MCEB for frequency allocation approval is the DD Form 1494. All major military RF systems, as defined in Chapter 10 of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Manual of Regulations & Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management, are reviewed in parallel with the J-12 process by the Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS). The submission of incomplete and inaccurate DD Form 1494 applications consumes unnecessary manpower and causes processing delays.
The DD Form 1494 is submitted in stages that coincide with the phases of the DoD acquisition process. A short description of the DD Form 1494 stages follows:
- Stage 1 - Conceptual: The initial planning effort has been completed, including identification of proposed frequency bands and other available characteristics. Certification of spectrum support for telecommunication systems at Stage 1 provides initial guidance on the feasibility of obtaining certification of spectrum supportability at subsequent stages.
- Stage 2 - Experimental: The preliminary design has been completed. Radiation using "bread-board" equipment or preliminary models may be required. Certification of spectrum supportability for RF systems at Stage 2 is a prerequisite for receiving a frequency assignment supporting, for example, the experimentation required by TRADOC Regulation 70-20.
- Stage 3 - Developmental: The major design has been completed and radiation may be required from "brass-board" models during testing. Certification of spectrum supportability for RF systems at Stage 3 is a prerequisite for U.S. national authorization of radiation in support of developmental testing of systems. It also provides guidelines for assuring certification of spectrum supportability at Stage 4. At this point, the intended frequency band will normally have been determined and certification at Stage 3 will be required for testing of proposed operational hardware and potential equipment configurations. System parameters may be provided to host nations through COCOM spectrum offices for spectrum supportability comments.
- Stage 4 - Operational: Identify the final operating constraints or restrictions required to ensure compatibility when development has been essentially completed. Certification of spectrum supportability for RF systems at Stage 4 is a prerequisite for a frequency assignment for operational system. The system parameters included on the Stage 4 DD Form 1494 are normally provided to host nations through COCOM spectrum offices to obtain spectrum supportability comments.
The JSC can assist in identifying and defining the appropriate equipment characteristics and preparing the DD Form 1494 for submission to the MCEB.
