Appendix C: Performance Measures Definitions

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2.3

Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced telecommunications and information services

PERFORMANCE OUTCOME: Ensure that the allocation of radio spectrum provides the greatest benefit to all people (NTIA)

Performance Measures:

• Timeliness of processing (days)
• Certification request processing time (months)

These two measures reflect the time that (1) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) authorizes the federal agency use of the frequency spectrum in a timely manner so they can operate their radio communications and (2) NTIA certifies in a timely manner that spectrum will be available in the future for federal agency planned radio communications. NTIA ensures that each assignment approved does not cause interference to other spectrum users nor will it receive harmful interference from other spectrum users and that each assignment complies with the rules, regulations. and standards within NTIA’s manual. NTIA’s approval prevents an agency from developing communications in the wrong frequency band that could cause or receive interference from other spectrum users that could result in being unable to implement the system and the loss of all the funding that was necessary to develop the communication system. These measures contain the planned average target time to obtain approval, the number of requests for a frequency assignment, the average time it took to provide approval, and a comparison of actual time for approval versus the target.

Performance Measure:

• Space system coordination request processing time

NTIA provides approval and coordination domestically and internationally in a timely manner for an agency to operate its planned satellite communications. Coordination with other satellite spectrum users is essential to prevent interference to each other in light of the high costs of developing and implementing satellite communication systems. The performance measure contains the planned average target time to obtain approval for coordination actions within the Space Systems Subcommittee process, the number of space systems coordination actions requested, and the percentage of actions meeting target approval time.

NTIA also provides coordination to foreign satellite spectrum users to ensure that their systems do not interfere with U.S. satellite and terrestrial spectrum users. The performance measure contains the target percentage of responses to other countries meeting the ITU required timeframes, the number of space systems coordination requested, and the percentage of coordination actions completed on time.

Performance Measure:

• Spectrum plans and policies processing time

Most of the frequency spectrum is shared between the private sector and the federal government. As such, there are constant changes in the spectrum allocations, rules, and regulations developed and maintained by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and NTIA to address access by new telecommunication technologies and services to ensure interference free operation between all spectrum users and a level playing field to promote competition. The FCC accomplishes this task on behalf of the private sector through public rulemaking and NTIA does this through advice of the IRAC,. NTIA and the FCC have agreed in a memorandum of agreement that they would mutually perform the necessary coordination on rulemakings within 15 days or less. This agreement prevents unnecessary delays in gaining access to the spectrum, thus ensuring that the costs of regulatory processes on technology and services deployment are minimized. This performance measure contains the planned average target time to obtain NTIA coordination, the number of requests, the average time it took to provide coordination and a comparison of the actual time for coordination versus the target.

Performance Measure:

• Milestones completed from the implementation plan of the President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative

NTIA was directed by the President on November 30, 2004 to implement his Spectrum Policy Initiative by implementing 24 recommendations contained in two reports submitted by the Secretary of Commerce and coordinated with federal agencies in the OMB coordination process. The recommendations call for improvements in the spectrum management process to meet the goals in Performance Goal 1 above. NTIA has prepared an implementation plan with 136 milestones to be completed over the next five years as shown in Appendix 1. The performance measure contains the planned target of the number of milestones required to satisfy the 24 recommendations for each fiscal year until completed and for each of the four major goals in the President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative. The actual number of milestones completed will be compared with the target.

PERFORMANCE OUTCOME: Promote the availability, and support new sources, of advanced telecommunications and information services

Performance Measure:

• Support new telecom and info technology by advocating Administration views in number of FCC docket filings, and Congressional and other proceedings in which Administration views are advocated

This measure reflects NTIA’s work in fulfilling its policy-setting role. It involves participating on behalf of the Administration in FCC and Congressional proceedings on telecommunications policies, including the development of appropriate regulatory treatment for broadband services deployment.

Performance Measure:

• Number of Web site views for research publications

NTIA measures the number of Web site hits of its online research publications. This measure indicates the reception and utility of research results within the spectrum research and engineering community. Many government agencies and private sector organizations use these research publications to improve effectiveness in the planning, procurement, and configuration of systems. This basic research directly benefits the U.S. public through promotion of advanced telecommunications and information infrastructure development in the United States, enhancement of domestic competitiveness, improvement of foreign trade opportunities for U.S. telecommunications firms, and facilitation of more efficient and effective use of the radio spectrum.