Much of the technology used by the military is dependent on electro-magnetic spectrum, but it is difficult to know what spectrum will be available interference-free for warfighters on the front lines in future conflicts.

To address this issue, the Defense Department has been preparing for scenarios where adversaries deny spectrum or where transmission infrastructure can't be quickly established, officials said during a Sept. 15 event on spectrum management hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, D.C.

"They're aware of the challenges in different environments and different theaters," said Brig. Gen. Kevin McLaughlin, Strategic Command deputy J3. "That's something they're working hard on right now, across government."

Meanwhile back home, training in realistic scenarios in which spectrum access is actively denied or merely unintentionally jammed by the plethora of devices demanding its use is difficult.

For one, thing, spectrum access can even be denied here at home by civilian infrastructure unlike what exists abroad.

"Solar energy, wind turbines--all these things that need to happen for the nation, are making it less and less to where we can do realistic training," said McLaughlin. Alternative energy production can jam spectrum in remote areas of the country, where military training and testing is often conducted, he added.

Also, training can't intefer with civilian spectrum regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. As a result, the DoD must take steps to avoid utilizing some areas of spectrum, which presents a somewhat unrealistic scenario.

What's more, finding clear space to test technology across multiple frequencies, within the United States, is extremely difficult.

"You still have those in DoD who want 'assured' something. They want some sense that 'I own this. I manage risk because nobody else can get in it,'" said McLaughlin. "But the issue is, the world is changing at a rate and in a way that the way that we go about getting that assurance, by having something exclusive to the DoD is changing. The trick is going to be, how do we get assured conditions when it's critical to saving someone's life?" 

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