An Assessment of the Communications Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology: Fiscal Year 2019 (2019)
Chapter: 6 List of Key Recommendations
6
List of Key Recommendations
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION
Key Recommendation: The PSCR Division should develop a research and development roadmap for mission-critical voice, considering how the various activities it includes therein can be used as integral elements. CTL should consult on the roadmap’s development with other organizations, both government and commercial, to determine overlap of technology development. CTL should conduct its own critical technology assessment to inform its roadmap. (Chapter 3)
Key Recommendation: CTL should develop a roadmap for public safety analytics, taking into consideration projected future areas of interest. (Chapter 3)
Key Recommendation: The PSCR Division should consider integration of the UI/UX (user interface/user experience) research and prize challenges with the other PSCR portfolios as appropriate provided efficiencies can be gained by such integration. The division should consider developing a methodology and process for studying UI/UX along with study of new technologies. (Chapter 3)
Key Recommendation: CTL should evaluate the possibility of a strategic expansion of PSCR’s internal research staff aimed at ensuring continuity of research in key priority areas in particular after fiscal year 2022 when the spectrum auction funds will have been spent or no longer be available. In addition, CTL should develop a plan for leveraging the expertise developed through the prize challenges. (Chapter 3)
METROLOGY OF ADVANCED COMMUNICATION
Key Recommendation: CTL should develop a 3-year or 5-year strategic plan for its activities in metrology for advanced communication, to include: identifying and evaluating new research directions and opportunities for growth; developing strategic partnerships with other NIST laboratories for pursuing new areas; identifying resource needs (equipment, facilities, staff) for pursuing strategic growth areas of research; identifying and pursuing internal and external sources of funding to support the plan; and developing measurable criteria and metrics for annually evaluating progress toward 3-year and 5-year goals. The strategic plan should explain how its execution will support the successful attainment of the CTL priorities. (Chapter 4)
Key Recommendation: CTL should undertake planning and resource allocation for renewal and renovation of its measurement facilities with a degree of urgency to support their functioning as a “paid service” to the research and business communities.
Key Recommendation: The Radio Frequency Technology Division should broaden its research portfolio into the areas of optical communications technology and quantum information science and engineering—both of which it has identified already—while leveraging strategic collaborative partnerships with other NIST laboratories, including the Physical Measurement Laboratory and the Information Technology Laboratory. (Chapter 4)
Key Recommendation: To develop closer partnerships with industry, academia and governments and to explore new sources of revenue the Wireless Networks Division and Radio Frequency Technology Division should integrate and build on the recent accomplishments in 5G millimeter-wave channel modeling, millimeter-wave propagation channel sounding and measurements, on-wafer measurements, over-the-air measurements, and a new design framework for future vector network analyzers. (Chapter 4)
Key Recommendation: Consistent with its future staffing levels, NASCTN should take a more proactive role in advising on future spectrum allocation decisions. NASCTN should engage impartially with all sides of the debates on emerging and urgent issues. (Chapter 4)
Key Recommendation: CTL should continue vigorous support for the spectrum sensing and sharing activity, which has delivered impactful results. (Chapter 4)
This page intentionally left blank.
