comdtinst m2400.1f - US Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium

CHAPTER 4. RADIO FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES
A. General.
1. Frequency Spectrum. The radio frequency spectrum is a imited resource
that must accommodate a multiplicity of telecommunication
requirements. Unrestricted use of radio frequencies would result in
disrupted communications and harmful interference between radio
systems. Frequency management organizations have been established on
the international and national level to allocate frequency bands to
specific services, develop regulations for the orderly use of
frequencies and issue frequency assignments to individual users.
2. Organizations. Internationally, radio frequencies are allocated and
managed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an
organization under the United Nations. Nationally, radio frequencies
are managed by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) for federal government usage and by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) for non-federal government use.
3. NTIA. NTIA is assisted in the management of the radio spectrum by the
Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). This committee is
comprised of representatives from the departments and agencies of the
federal government that use the radio spectrum. The IRAC has
established four subcommittees to develop and recommend radio policy
and assign radio frequencies to federal agencies:
(a) Frequency Assignment Subcommittee (FAS)
(b) Spectrum Planning Subcommittee (SPS)
(c) Technical Subcommittee (TSC)
(d) International Notification Group (ING)
4. FCC. The FCC develops radio policy and assigns radio
frequencies to all non-federal government agencies and the
private sector. The FCC provides a liaison representative to
the IRAC for coordinating non government requirements.
5. JFP. The Joint Frequency Panel (JFP) of the Military
Communications-Electronics Board (MCEB), under the Joint
Chiefs of Staff (JCS), determines radio policy and assigns
radio frequencies to the military departments for operations
outside the United States and Possessions.
6. Coast Guard. Coast Guard radio frequency management is the
responsibility of the Maritime Radio and Spectrum Management
Division (G-TTM), Office of Command, Control and
Communications (G-T), Coast Guard Headquarters. The
Maritime Radio and Spectrum Management Division provides
representatives to the IRAC, its subcommittees and the JFP.
They provide official liaison for the Commandant with the FCC
and NTIA. The Coast Guard also provides frequency management
support for the Department of Transportation (except
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