US RF Spectrum Domination

At the dawn of the radio age, the possibilities of the electromagnetic spectrum were limitless and there was enough spectrum for everyone to use. As radio frequency (RF) devices proliferated exponentially, governments stepped in to allocate spectrum based on fairness and fiscal capacity of the requested user. As equipment has become more capable of using the spectrum more efficiently, regulations and operating procedures have not evolved. This paper will discuss the future of RF technology, identify and critique the processes and vision of each level (International, Federal, DoD, Service) in the RF allocation process and suggests improvements to improve to the current guidance. All current guidance fails to merge the operations, intelligence and communications disciplines. These specialties need to work together to write the doctrine and procedures for the future of spectrum operations. If the US military continues to allow technology to outrun policies and procedures, the future battlespace may see a technologically astute enemy dominating the spectrum while the coalition tries to learn how to fight in the dynamic RF spectrum world.