1. OECD and Radio Astronomy Spectrum
Tasso Tzioumis
Australia Telescope National Facility
10 June 2002

2. Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School
OECD
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
International organisation
30 Members – mainly “western” countries i.e. USA, Japan, European countries, Australia, Canada, ……
Heads of government interactions
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

3. Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School
OECD and Science
Meetings of Science Ministers
Megascience Forum  Global Science Forum
Considers multi-national large science projects
E.g. Structural Genomics, Proton beams, Laser pulses
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

4. OECD and Radio Astronomy
Working Group on Radio Astronomy
Report in 1998; adopted by ministers 1999
Large new facilities – mm arrays (ALMA?) and cm large array (SKA?)
Identified threat to RAS from satellite down-links
 New task force to address this issue
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

5. Task Force on Radio Astronomy and the Radio Spectrum
High level informal group
Satellite people + Radio Astronomers + Spectrum management
Terms of reference document
Ron Ekers, Harvey Butcher, Tom Gergely,…
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

6. Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School
Objectives
The Task Force should produce a brief, policy-level report that contains findings and action-oriented recommendations.
It is recognised that the ultimate resolution of this difficult problem could take many years, but the deliberations of the Task Force should lead to the initiation of appropriate activities in the near future.
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

7. Scope
 Technological solutions: Radio astronomers and industry representatives could identify and jointly implement interference mitigation schemes.
Regulation: If new, innovative ways of sharing the radio spectrum are to be found, the appropriate discussions must begin soon within national agencies and the ITU, as the implementation of new regulations usually requires a considerable amount of effort over several years.
Radio-quiet zones: Remote areas on the Earth's surface could be designated where future radio observatories could be located, and where radio emissions, especially from spaceborne and airborne sources, would be restricted in frequency and time. The technical, regulatory, and legal dimensions of this concept would have to be carefully examined.

8. Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School
Work Program
A.     To investigate in detail the three-pronged approach indicated above, and to propose specific programs that will constitute a balanced, co-ordinated strategy. B.     To sound out members of their respective spheres of interest about the elements of acceptable regulatory and other solutions, and about their willingness to participate in achieving those solutions. C.     To develop a road map of long-term solutions, with a time schedule and milestones, for consideration by the relevant national and international bodies. Special attention should be given to taking advantage of (and strengthening) the procedures of the ITU.
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

9. Possible SKA configuration
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

10. SKA Location WA Radio Quiet Reserve
RFI measurement system
Funded by WA state government
First results march-April 2001
MHz
MHz
Site comparison 2002
Noise floor > 30db ITU
IMS under construction
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School

11. Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School
Task Force outcomes?
Draft report NOT public
Will be presented to ministers in near future
Expectations:
- some mechanisms for “quiet zones”
- proposals to go to ITU (WRC06?) via IUCAF or administrations
- NO weakening of current ITU protection for RAS.
- mitigation effort?
23/11/2018
Tasso Tzioumis Greenbank Summer School