Institute for Telecommunication Sciences / Research / Table Mountain / Access to Site

Access to the Table Mountain Field Site and Radio Quiet Zone

Access to the Table Mountain Advanced Communications Test Site is restricted as detailed in 5 CFR Part 731, 5 CFR Part 732, 5 CFR Part 736, DAO 207-1, and HSPD-12.

  • Badged employees of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) or the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and authorized affiliates and contractors may apply for and receive unaccompanied access, provided that they are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents and that they have a current federal government background security clearance. To gain access to the site, follow the steps below.
  • Individuals who are not any of the above may only visit the Table Mountain site when accompanied by authorized personnel. Visitors not authorized for unaccompanied access must always be accompanied by an authorized individual.

Step 1: Request Site Access

Department of Commerce (DoC), U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Navy employees:

  • Email TMSiteManager@ntia.gov to request the briefing and access request form. 
  • Once the request is approved, you will be given an individual access code (PIN). It is your responsibility to keep this number private.

You must also provide evidence from your management of your mission-related need to access the Table Mountain Field Site. Approval to use Table Mountain is not guaranteed.

Other U.S. Government Agencies

If you have a current federal government background security clearance, follow the procedure for DoC and USGS employees above.

You must undergo a background check if you do not have a current federal government background security clearance. You must also provide evidence from your management of your mission-related need to access the Table Mountain Field Site. Approval to use Table Mountain is not guaranteed.

To begin the process, email TMSiteManager@ntia.gov.

Other Researchers and Developers

Other researchers who want to use the Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone must establish a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The proposed research must align with the ITS strategic mission, such as the Radio Quiet Zone research activities listed here. Approval to use Table Mountain is not guaranteed.

For more information, email TMSiteManager@ntia.gov or communicate directly with the appropriate ITS research project. 

Step 2: Coordination of Onsite Transmitters

Due to the nature of the field site, radio frequency coordination is required for all transmissions. 

The Table Mountain Field Site Manager will provide instructions to the field site user after site access has been approved.

Radio signals at the Table Mountain site must meet the following criteria:

  • Approval for the transmission must be granted by the Regional Frequency Management Committee (RFMC)
  • The transmission must be of a temporary nature
  • The time and location of the transmission at the site must be documented
  • The transmission must meet all applicable licensing requirements
  • The transmission must not interfere with other activities at the field site

Questions

If you have any questions, email TMSiteManager@ntia.gov.