Radio Frequencies: Earlier Coordination Could Improve System Use and Save Costs
NSIAD-87-42
Published: Feb 09, 1987. Publicly Released: Feb 09, 1987.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) efforts to coordinate the use of radio frequencies with European nations for command, control, and communication systems.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should change management controls in the DOD instruction dealing with system acquisition and frequency coordination to specify that host nation frequency coordination be initiated no later than a system's full-scale development phase. The Secretary should also direct that the secretaries of the military departments change their instructions to conform to the changed DOD instruction. |
DOD corrective actions include: (1) issuing a directive; (2) revising a DOD instruction; and (3) introducing a control form. These actions implement this recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Chairman, Military Communications-Electronics Board, to strengthen management controls in the coordination process by: (1) requiring the military departments to routinely provide written authority to release frequency allocation applications and related documents to host nations for coordination before contracting for full-scale development; and (2) ensuring that theater commander comments and available host-nation comments are incorporated in frequency guidance to the military departments for the development, procurement, or modification of systems. When host-nation comments are unavailable, the guidance should explain why, when they are expected to be obtained, and what the likely frequency problems facing the system will be. |
DOD corrective actions taken include: (1) issuing a directive; (2) revising a DOD instruction; and (3) introducing a control form. These actions implement this recommendation.
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Topics
Command control communications systemsCost analysisForeign governmentsInternational cooperationMilitary communicationNational defense operationsRadio frequency allocationCommunication systemsMilitary forcesSpectrum management