Purchase Approval for RF Transmitting Equipment
To ensure that equipment purchased operates in the correct frequency range
for Federal government use, Office of Management and Budget and NASA regulations require that Radio Frequency
Authorizations (RFA) be obtained prior to the purchase of any radio
frequency transmitting equipment for use at KSC or for KSC-responsible
activities at offsite locations. Consequently, all purchase requests for
this type of equipment by Civil Service or contractor personnel must be
approved by the KSC Spectrum Manager prior to submission to the applicable
procurement office.
Purchase approval is required to prevent people from operating without an RFA
(a violation of the law that can result in fines) and to prevent people
from spending money on equipment that can't legally be used. This has happened at KSC
and resulted in additional costs to return or modify the equipment.
This requirement applies to all NASA civil service and contractor
personnel at KSC, CCAFS, and off-site locations under KSC jurisdiction.
What equipment requires purchase approval?
- Radios for voice or data transmission
- "Wireless" devices including LANs, video links, headsets, microphones, remote controls
- Radars
- Tracking beacons
- Microwave links
- NAVAIDS for ships or aircraft employing radio frequencies
- Any other "intentional" RF radiating devices
What equipment is exempt?
- Communications services provided by commercial vendors such as cell phones
- Test equipment such as signal generators that will not be connected to an antenna
- Wireless devices that use infrared light instead of radio frequencies
- Send email to Steven Schindler with a description of the equipment and the frequencies used.
- If an existing RFA will accommodate your equipment, you will receive approval by return email.
- If a new RFA is required, you will be contacted for additional information. Also, see the FAQ about obtaining RFAs.
KSC Spectrum Management Home
Updated 7 March 2005