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Synopsis of Program:

The radio spectrum is a finite but exceedingly valuable natural resource that facilitates a tremendous variety of scientific, engineering, security, business, and consumer applications. Radio and radar astronomy, ionospheric physics, meteorology, broadband wireless networks, cell phones, aviation radar, GPS, military satellites, and television broadcasting are but a few of the countless diverse uses of the radio spectrum.

The value of the radio spectrum to scientific research is well established. For example, six of the ten Nobel prizes awarded for astronomical research have been for discoveries related to radio astronomy. But as a result of its widespread utility, the radio spectrum has a direct impact not just on science but on the national and international economy. In the United States, the wireless industry exceeds both the automotive and agricultural industries in magnitude. Much larger still is the indirect impact to the economy of scientific discoveries, public safety & welfare, goods & services, and entertainment that are enabled, or made more efficient, by use of the radio spectrum. Even a small increase in the efficiency by which radio spectrum is utilized will result in a large return.

To this end, the purpose of EARS is to support cross-cutting research that focuses on increasing the efficiency with which radio spectrum is used. The goal is, essentially, to support research that can enable more users to share a fixed amount of radio spectrum. By focusing research support across all relevant NSF disciplines in a coordinated fashion, the Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum (EARS) activity will help drive the next generation of important scientific discoveries, while helping to enable significant economic growth by addressing the rapidly increasing demand for wireless applications.

The key research areas of the EARS program include, but are not limited to: radio frequency interference mitigation; software-defined radios; cognitive radio systems; modulation techniques; adaptive antennas; multi-in multi-out (MIMO) techniques; economics of radio spectrum access, including auctions and secondary markets; regulatory optimization; biological effects of RF exposure; broadband wireless networks; millimeter wave and terahertz technologies; ultrawideband systems; low noise and power amplifier design; digital signal processing; fourth generation (and beyond) wireless systems; personal area networks; and wireless mesh networks.

Eligible Applicants

Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above)

Agency Name

National Science Foundation

Description

The radio spectrum is a finite but exceedingly valuable natural resource that facilitates a tremendous variety of scientific, engineering, security, business, and consumer applications. Radio and radar astronomy, ionospheric physics, meteorology, broadband wireless networks, cell phones, aviation radar, GPS, military satellites, and television broadcasting are but a few of the countless diverse uses of the radio spectrum.The value of the radio spectrum to scientific research is well established. For example, six of the ten Nobel prizes awarded for astronomical research have been for discoveries related to radio astronomy. But as a result of its widespread utility, the radio spectrum has a direct impact not just on science but on the national and international economy. In the United States, the wireless industry exceeds both the automotive and agricultural industries in magnitude. Much larger still is the indirect impact to the economy of scientific discoveries, public safety & welfare, goods & services, and entertainment that are enabled, or made more efficient, by use of the radio spectrum. Even a small increase in the efficiency by which radio spectrum is utilized will result in a large return. To this end, the purpose of EARS is to support cross-cutting research that focuses on increasing the efficiency with which radio spectrum is used. The goal is, essentially, to support research that can enable more users to share a fixed amount of radio spectrum. By focusing research support across all relevant NSF disciplines in a coordinated fashion, the Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum (EARS) activity will help drive the next generation of important scientific discoveries, while helping to enable significant economic growth by addressing the rapidly increasing demand for wireless applications.The key research areas of the EARS program include, but are not limited to: radio frequency interference mitigation; software-defined radios; cognitive radio systems; modulation techniques; adaptive antennas; multi-in multi-out (MIMO) techniques; economics of radio spectrum access, including auctions and secondary markets; regulatory optimization; biological effects of RF exposure; broadband wireless networks; millimeter wave and terahertz technologies; ultrawideband systems; low noise and power amplifier design; digital signal processing; fourth generation (and beyond) wireless systems; personal area networks; and wireless mesh networks.Note: EARS is not presently accepting proposals. Please contact the program officer for additional information.