Policy Agenda
2010 Policy Agenda
Control of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is critical to the success in all warfighting domains – land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Electronic warfare (EW) supports maneuver, operational fires, deception, and delivery of decisive effect by providing a fully-integrated attack, defense, sensing, and control capability across all services. Therefore, the AOC urges the Department of Defense (DOD), Congress, and related federal agencies to organize, train, and equip warfighters by implementing the following policy agenda:
Ensure National Spectrum Inventory and Reallocation Policy Reflects Military Requirements for EMS Operations, Management, and Control – The AOC calls on Congress and the Administration to improve legislation that creates an annual radio spectrum inventory and reforms the spectrum reallocation process. As currently drafted, this legislation will significantly and disproportionately affect joint warfighters who rely on the EMS to train and fight in complex and congested EMS environments. The EMS is a global domain that is fundamental to the range of military operations (ROMO) and essential for existing and emerging technologies in EW, Network-Centric capabilities, communications systems, satellite resources, and multi-spectral sensors. The AOC recognizes that the EMS is a dynamic and ever-changing domain and further encroachment will hurt the ability of DOD to manage military utilization of the spectrum and provide long-term strategic planning and program development.
Invest in Next Generation Joint Electronic Warfare Capabilities - The AOC calls for focused development of EW capabilities that provide enhanced electronic attack, electronic protection, electronic support, and EMS control. These systems should reflect the distributed, modular, and scalable aspects of modern warfare while ensuring integrated and coordinated military effectiveness across the electromagnetic spectrum. The military services should expedite development and acquisition of next generation capabilities to meet joint warfighting requirements and counter the modernization of enemy air defenses and the growing asymmetric threats confronting our military. Therefore, the FY 2011 – 2015 Future Years Defense Program must provide for improved capabilities for our warfighters in all aspects of EW activities and operations.
Establish a Comprehensive EW Strategy – The AOC calls on the DOD to submit to Congress an annual report that identifies EW acquisition and research and development programs and how such programs comply with DOD’s comprehensive EW strategy. The report, which is authorized in the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, also requires DOD to substantiate the need, validate the requirement, and estimate the cost for each EW program. A comprehensive EW strategy will ensure that critical technologies and capabilities will advance through the acquisition process more efficiently and quickly and are available to U.S. warfighters who require access to and use of the EMS in combat.
Maintain EW Industrial Base – The AOC calls for maintaining the strong and superior U.S. electronic warfare industrial base that is critical to our national security. Congress, DOD, and U.S. industry must coordinate efforts to establish policies and resources to protect U.S. electronic warfare research, technology, capabilities and readiness through managed reduction wartime levels. The U.S. must continue to advance critical EW technologies and ensure the ability to deliver capabilities required for current, future, and surge needs.
2010 Watch List
The Watch List identifies current legislation, policies, and regulations under consideration by Congress, DOD, and related federal agencies that impact the AOC policy agenda and affect the EW and information operations (IO) communities. The Watch List will be updated regularly as issues arise or develop.
H.R. 3125, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act – The bill authorizes the creation of an annual inventory of each spectrum band from 225 megahertz to 3.7 gigahertz, including (1) the identity and types of service of each federal or non-federal user authorized to operate in each band, (2) the approximate number of transmitters, repeaters, or other devices authorized to operate within each spectrum allocation, and to the greatest extent possible (6) contour maps that illustrate coverage areas of users in each spectrum band. H.R. 3125 is currently before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Senate companion bill, S. 649, was reported from committee and awaits consideration on the Senate floor.
H.R. 3019, the Spectrum Relocation Improvement Act – The bill reforms and expedites the process of clearing federal users from spectrum that has been reallocated for commercial use. Specifically, H.R. 3019 requires a publicly available transition plan of each federal entity to be relocated after a spectrum auction and clarifies eligibility for payment for relocation costs from the Spectrum Relocation Fund. The bill is currently before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 – The bill requires a cybersecurity strategic research and development plan, including an implementation roadmap. H.R. 4061 also authorizes several cybersecurity grant programs through the National Science Foundation (NSF). The bill was introduced by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (IL-03) on November 7, 2009. It passed the House on February 3, 2010.
H.R. ___/S. ____, FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act – Annual legislation to authorize defense spending and provide oversight of defense programs and policies. The AOC must ensure necessary funding/oversight of EW programs and requirements.
H.R. ____, FY 2011 Defense Appropriations Act – Annual legislation to provide funding for the Department of Defense. The AOC must ensure necessary funding/oversight of EW programs and requirements.