MEMORANDUM of AGREEMENT Between the National Science

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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS

AND THE

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL MEDIA CENTER

REGARDING

RADIO AND TELEVISION SERVICES

IN SUPPORT OF THE

UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC PROGRAM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... III

ARTICLE I BACKGROUND ...... 1 A. PURPOSE ...... 1 B. ROLE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ...... 1 C. CHARTER FOR SUPPORT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE...... 1 D. ROLE OF THE NAVAL MEDIA CENTER...... 2 E. TRANSITION OF DOD EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR ANTARCTIC SUPPORT ...... 2 F. AFRTS SATELLITE BROADCAST CONVERSION TO DIGITAL SERVICE...... 3 ARTICLE II AUTHORITY...... 4

ARTICLE III ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY ...... 5 A. NAVAL MEDIA CENTER ...... 5 1. Administration...... 5 2. Operation ...... 6 3. Infrastructure ...... 6 4. Maintenance...... 6 B. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS ...... 7 1. Administration...... 7 2. Operation ...... 8 3. Infrastructure ...... 8 4. Maintenance...... 9 ARTICLE IV FINANCIAL MATTERS...... 10

ARTICLE V AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION ...... 10

ARTICLE VI ENACTMENT AND TERMINATION...... 11

ARTICLE VII APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE...... 12

APPENDIX A - APPROVED OUTLET STATION SITES...... 13

APPENDIX B - APPROVED OUTLET STATION EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAMMING ...... 14

ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Morale, welfare, and Command Information functions for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), which include Navy Media Center (NMC) Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS), were transferred on 1 October 1997 to commercial contractor operations with management oversight and funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NMC will continue to support the NSF mission requirement for the USAP for radio and television via this separate memorandum of agreement. This separate agreement defines the geographic locations, scope, terms, conditions, and responsibilities of NMC and NSF for continued NSF access to AFRTS services.

The NSF implements national antarctic policy by acting as the Executive Agent for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), which is the sole means for the conduct of basic scientific research in Antarctica and the surrounding ocean regions. National policy provides NSF with the authority to utilize Department of Defense (DOD) resources for the support of antarctic operations and logistics. A Memorandum of Agreement between DOD and NSF defines the scope of support provided to the USAP.

The Department of the Navy has been chartered by DOD to serve as the Executive Agent for DOD support to the USAP. This support is managed via the Commander, Naval Support Force Antarctica (CNSFA). The CNSFA has established separate agreements with the Naval Media Center (NMC) for the provision of Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) to forward deployed DOD personnel in New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Access to AFRTS services has been extended to non-DOD participants of the USAP.

The Naval Media Center has been designated by the DOD American Forces Information Service (AFIS) as the AFRTS geographic area manager for New Zealand and Antarctica.

DOD will restructure its support for the USAP during the period of 1 October 1997 through 1 April 1999. The role of Executive Agent will transfer from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Air Force, and many operations/logistics functions provided by the Navy will become commercialized, transferred to civilian Navy commands, or transferred to the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard.

iii BACKGROUND

Purpose

This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of the Navy, Naval Media Center (NMC), and the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP), provides for the definition of radio and television services to be provided by the Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, American Forces Information Service's (AFIS) Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) and NMC in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

This MOA responds to the transition in the role and functions of Department of Defense support to the National Science Foundation for the USAP that will occur over the period 1 October 1997 to 1 April 1999. The MOA defines the scope and means for the continuation of services provided under the existing DOD support framework prior to the transition period.

Role of the National Science Foundation

The NSF, via national Antarctic policy, is designated as the executive Federal manager for the USAP. The USAP is the sole national means for the conduct of basic scientific research in Antarctica and surrounding regions. The NSF/OPP implements the science programs and provides for the operations of facilities and logistics infrastructure necessary for the conduct of the USAP. As authorized by national Antarctic policy, NSF/OPP uses the assistance of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation for operational logistics support.

Charter for Support, Department of Defense

The NSF and DOD have established a memorandum of agreement for the provision of operational logistics in support of the conduct of the USAP. This agreement designates the Secretary of the Navy as the Executive Agent for the DOD for USAP support functions. The Commander, Naval Support Force, Antarctica (CNSFA) is the designated operational commander for all DOD support forces in Antarctica.

CNSFA serves as the immediate superior in command for the Naval Antarctic Support Unit (NASU), Christchurch, New Zealand. NASU provides operational logistics support to the USAP for the geographic area of New Zealand. New Zealand serves as a main logistical pathway to the primary operating theater for the USAP in Antarctica.

Aviation support to the USAP is provided by the Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6).

Operational logistics have been defined to include morale, welfare, and recreation services for U.S. servicemen, DOD civil employees, and non-DOD participants of the USAP, per the memorandum of agreement.

Role of the Naval Media Center

The NMC provides all media services for the Department of Navy (DON). The Broadcasting Department of Naval Media Center (NBS) exists as a functioning sub-unit of the NMC that is responsible for radio and television services. NMC provides print, journalism, radio, and television services to both shore and afloat components of DON activities.

The NMC has been designated by AFIS as the manager for the geographic area of responsibility for AFRTS that includes Antarctica and New Zealand.

The CNSFA has established a memorandum of agreement with NMC for the provision of radio and television services for the support of DOD personnel deployed to Antarctica and New Zealand in support of the USAP. Access privileges to NMC services in the USAP has included all non-DOD personnel who are official participants of the USAP.

Transition of DOD Executive Agent for Antarctic Support

DOD and NSF have negotiated a plan to transition the Executive Agent for DOD antarctic support from the DON to the Department of the Air Force (AF). The National Guard Bureau (Air National Guard) assumes the role of operational mission commander provided by CNSFA. The defining memorandum of agreement for DOD support to the USAP has undergone modifications to reflect these changes, effective after 1 April 1998.

A component of the change in DOD Executive Agent is the civilianization of many functions provided by CNSFA and other DOD activities. All CNSFA functions transitioned to either commercial contractors or to the civil DON functionary, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWARSYSCEN), Charleston, SC. VXE-6 aviation support will transition to the Air National Guard (ANG). The transition schedule has the following milestone events:

1. CNSFA terminates support of radio and television service, functions transition to NSF funded civilian contractor; 1 October 1997

2. CNSFA and NASU disestablished, USAF assumes role as operational commander; 1 April1998

3. VXE-6 disestablished April, 1999; ANG assumes full responsibility for USAP aviation

AFRTS Satellite Broadcast Conversion to Digital Service

AFRTS Satellite Network (SATNET) broadcasts have converted from the B-MAC analog format to encrypted digital format (MPEG-2). This enables AFRTS to expand the number of broadcast channels from one video feed and 3 radio feeds to three additional video feeds and eight radio feeds.

The expansion in video service results in the following :

AFN - Pacific The general Entertainment Channel is a replacement of SATNET with a fully programmed broadcast day of news, sports and entertainment scheduled for the audience in the Pacific theater.

NewSports New 24 hour AFRTS service concentrating on current events and sports not covered on the Entertainment Channel

Spectrum An alternative programming service from AFRTS consisting of educational, science, family programming, mini-series from network and major cable networks.

The expansion in radio service adds different formats of popular music (country, rock, adult contemporary, etc.), news, sports, and National Public Radio programming.

The engineering transition to digital service in the Pacific-theater occurred during the fourth quarter of calendar year 1996. This required all ground stations to implement new satellite receiving and decoding equipment. This equipment was provided by AFRTS and successfully installed in McMurdo and Christchurch.

The programming transition was completed in 1997.

AUTHORITY

Participation by the NSF in this agreement is authorized by Sections 3(a), 3(b), and 11(c) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended and extended.

The definition of the roles of DOD and NSF for the United States Antarctic Program are collectively established in National Security Decision Memorandum (NSDM) 71 (1970), OMB Circular A-51R (4 August 1971), NSDM 318 (1976), and White House memorandum 6646 (5 February 1982). Specific guidance is provided via the Memorandum of Agreement Between The Department of Defense and The National Science Foundation for Operational and Logistics Support for The U.S. Antarctic Program (21 January 1997).

Participation by the NMC in this agreement is authorized by directive DOD 5120.20-R (February 1988), and by a subsequent directive currently in the approval process.

ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY

Naval Media Center

The Naval Media Center (NMC) will exercise its best efforts to:

Administration

serve as Executive Agent for AFRTS operations in Antarctica and New Zealand;

authorize NSF/OPP, in support of the USAP, to access, decode, and utilize AFRTS satellite transmissions that illuminate Antarctica and New Zealand;

support NSF/OPP outlet station sites as specified in Appendix A and services specified in Appendix B of this agreement;

provide annual funding requests to NSF no later than 1 May each year which defines budget requests applicable to the forthcoming new Fiscal Year, and to provide estimates on request by NSF at dates prior to this date;

provide budgetary data in a format that is compatible with the NSF Polar Operations Financial Management System (to include electronic format data exchange);

allow for the variation in operational constraints unique to antarctic operations in the USAP for such considerations as the use of NSF/OPP commercial contractors for station operations and maintenance, isolation of antarctic sites, logistics supply chain limitations, etc.;

allow for interpretation of DOD Directive 5120.20-R (and succeeding directives) to account for the distinction of the non-combat and non-host nation status of USAP sites in Antarctica, etc., with case-by-case exceptions agreed mutually with NSF/OPP and appended to this agreement for reference;

provide an initial inventory listing of all equipment and programming materials transferred to NSF custody upon the initiation of this agreement, and maintain a master inventory configuration list;

retain ownership and programming materials provided to NSF/OPP and retain all U.S. Government property accountability of record;

develop, in cooperation with NSF/OPP, an Operations Management Plan that specifies the specific requirements, procedures, responsibilities, etc. of the configuration control, operations, services, and maintenance of USAP AFRTS services by the NSF/OPP designated outlet manager (officer in charge, or "OIC")

Operation

Provide NSF/OPP designated outlet manager "OIC" with sustaining management information and support as is customary for NMC Broadcast Detachments for the conduct of AFRTS outlet functions and services; to include announcements, advisories, bulletins, management news, etc.

Provide, as required, authorization and scheduling to train the NSF/OPP designated outlet manager "OIC" in the Broadcast Manager Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD

Coordinate via the NSF/OPP designated outlet manager "OIC" for all USAP processes, procedures, and requirements for Technical Event deployments to Antarctica for management under the cognizance of the "OIC"

Infrastructure

Provide and fund specific NMC equipment for outlet station operations as mutually agreed with NMC. An initial inventory for reference will be developed by NMC and placed on file with a copy to NSF.

Provide specific AFRTS equipment and programming material, at no cost, for outlet station operations as indicated in Appendix B to this agreement

Provide and fund for spare parts, equipment, and equipment repairs sufficient to provide proper quality of service for isolated antarctic locations

Maintenance

Provide annual technical maintenance and inspection assistance team for temporary deployment to USAP sites, and coordinate with NSF/OPP designated acting outlet manager "OIC" for all logistics and technical support/interface

Provide, in coordination with NSF/OPP, a Preventative Maintenance Plan for all NMC provided equipment

Provide specialized training on an annual basis, as required, for NSF/OPP provided commercial contractor maintenance personnel as specified by NSF/OPP designated acting outlet manager "OIC"

Provide depot level and/or vendor repair service for all equipment provided

National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs

The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP) will utilize the services and efforts of its commercial prime support contractor to implement "hands-on" administration as the outlet manager "OIC" for operations, maintenance, and inventory control of physical activities conducted in Antarctica and New Zealand.

NSF/OPP will provide its best efforts to:

Administration

Agree to serve as Outlet Manager for AFRTS radio and television services for outlet station sites as specified in Appendix A of this agreement that are affiliated with the USAP, effective on the date of transfer of CNSFA management of Navy Broadcasting Detachment McMurdo to NSF commercial contractor operation (nominally 1 October 1997)

Conduct the administration, operations, programming, and maintenance of AFRTS outlet functions per DOD directive 5120.20-R (February 1988) and succeeding directives, with case-by-case exceptions to be negotiated with NMC via separate agreement and appended to this agreement for reference

Assume property custodial responsibility for all NMC provided equipment and AFRTS provided programming materials, using a mutually agreed documentation process. All materials will be used in accordance with applicable regulations.

Conduct an annual inventory of all NMC end item equipment on loan to NSF and forward a report to NMC on a mutually agreed annual time line

Return all NMC and AFRTS controlled equipment, inventory items, programming, etc. to NMC in a timely manner when the NSF/OPP requirement terminates (with allowances for unavoidable delays in shipping means between Antarctica and the U.S.)

Provide and fund an acting outlet manager, or Officer In Charge ("OIC")

Ensure the accountability of a contractor provided acting outlet manager “OIC” directly to the NSF/OPP McMurdo Station Manager (U.S. Government employee) for the enforcement and integrity of AFRTS and NMC policy, procedures, and copyrighted material management, as agreed and defined by this memorandum of agreement

Develop, in cooperation with NMC, an Operations Management Plan that specifies the specific requirements, procedures, responsibilities, etc. of the operations, services, and maintenance of USAP AFRTS services by the NSF/OPP designated outlet manager "OIC"

Provide a written end of season brief from the outlet manager “OIC” to NMC on station operations and requirements for follow on seasons, due on/about 31 March of each year

Coordinate with NMC any desired major modifications, additions or changes to the installed equipment or capabilities.

Operation

Agree to conduct operations to meet NMC standards for the quality of service provided for broadcast video and radio services

Ensure that NMC and AFRTS equipment provided on loan will not be altered or modified in any way without prior approval of NMC

Provide, fund, and coordinate with NMC and its designated affiliates for transportation of Navy Media Center provided equipment, programming, and personnel destined for transportation to/from Antarctica and New Zealand, to include per diem and air fare costs

Coordinate all outlet station equipment upgrades with NMC and its designated affiliates for the purpose of merging with annual technical maintenance and inspection visitations by NMC personnel

Fund training of acting outlet manager "OIC" per NMC specifications, to include completion of NMC sponsored Broadcast Manager Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD

Infrastructure

Provide all satellite earth station and supporting terrestrial infrastructure for AFRTS satellite service downlinking as specified in the site equipment descriptions contained in Appendix B of this agreement

Provide all terrestrial links between the satellite earth station with the broadcast studio for the following functions: broadcast video feed, radio feed, and monitor/control of AFRTS and affiliated equipment

Provide all antenna towers, facilities space, heat, light, and power for video and radio broadcast studio, remote television and radio transmitters, and related storage requirements

Provide all community access television (CATV) distribution systems (cable, distribution amplifiers, passive electronics, etc.) required at all operating sites designated in Appendix A, with demarcation occurring at the connector interface for the cable plant head-end

Provide any additional video systems, production, head-end modulators, etc. as deemed desirable by NSF/OPP for the provision of services not covered by NMC or AFRTS but which are allowable per the terms and conditions of this memorandum of agreement

Maintenance

Provide, fund, and coordinate with NMC for an annual technical maintenance and inspection team visit to occur during the austral summer season; staffing, tasking, and time in Antarctica and New Zealand to be negotiated annually on a case by case basis

Provide and fund for all maintenance personnel required in Antarctica for sustaining operations and maintenance of NMC equipment and NSF/OPP provided equipment associated with the recovery and dissemination of AFRTS broadcast video and radio services

Provide and fund for all equipment maintenance and technician training for NSF/OPP supplied equipment

Develop jointly with NMC a Preventative Maintenance Plan, tailored to USAP operations, and provide for the annual execution of the Plan

Provide corrective maintenance on NMC provided equipment on an as-required basis per NMC guidelines

Utilize NMC provided depot maintenance services per NMC guidelines

Fund training of maintenance personnel for NMC specified and provided specialized training

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Each Party shall be responsible for funding its responsibilities unless explicitly noted otherwise.

Certain tasks and activities may be determined by the Parties to be cost-reimbursable, requiring the transfer of funds from one Party to the other. This transfer will utilize established means for the conveyance of funds as implemented under the DOD memorandum for operational and logistics support to the USAP.

During the period prior to 1 April 1998, all fund disbursements from NSF to NMC shall be processed via CNSFA. CNSFA serves as a central disbursing agent for all DOD support to the USAP. Subsequent to 1 April 1998, following the assumption of AF as the Executive Agent for DOD support to the USAP, all fund disbursements from NSF to NMC shall be processed via the National Guard Bureau (Air National Guard Readiness Center) or other agent as jointly established by the AF and NSF.

The ability of each Party to implement its respective responsibilities of this agreement is subject to the availability of appropriated funds and is further subject to the funding procedures of each Party.

AMENDMENT AND EXTENSION

This agreement may be amended or extended to accommodate new requirements or changes in scope by the mutual consent of both Parties.

This agreement must be amended in the event that changes in the external DOD memorandum for operations and logistics support for the USAP cause a change in the defining authority, terms, or conditions pertaining to authorized DOD support.

ENACTMENT AND TERMINATION

This agreement shall become active upon the date of the final authorizing signature.

This agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years from the date of signature, or until rendered ineffective due to relevant changes in the external DOD memorandum for operations and logistics support for the USAP, whichever comes first. This agreement shall be automatically extended in successive one year increments upon the anniversary date in the absence of formal action by either Party.

At the consent of both Parties, this agreement shall be extended for successive five-year periods upon the conclusion of the preceding five-year cycle. Extension notification shall be conducted by a mutual exchange in writing, signed by the agent of each agency designated as the institutional custodian of this agreement.

This agreement may be terminated by mutual consent at any time. This agreement may be terminated unilaterally at any time by one Party, provided that 180 days written notification is given the other Party and that reasonable efforts to minimize impacts for the affected Party are possible. In the event of adverse impacts incurred by the affected Party that cannot be adequately resolved within the 180 day interval, both Parties shall negotiate a mutually acceptable date of termination.

APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE

for the Naval Media Center date

for the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs date

for the National Science Foundation, Office of Budget, Finance, and Award date Management

APPENDIX A - APPROVED OUTLET STATION SITES

DATE: 1 March 1998

The following installations are authorized as AFRTS outlet stations in support of the United States Antarctic Program:

I. McMurdo Station Ross Island, Antarctica

Latitude: 77°51' South

Longitude: 166°40' East

II. International Antarctic Center Orchard Road Christchurch, New Zealand

Latitude: 42°30' South

Longitude: 172°30' East

APPENDIX B - APPROVED OUTLET STATION EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAMMING

DATE: 1 March 1998

I. McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica

A. National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP), shall exercise best efforts to:

(a) Provide all satellite earth station and supporting terrestrial infrastructure at the Black Island Telecommunications Facility (BITF) for AFRTS satellite service downlinking (177° East INTELSAT) for service to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, which includes the antenna, radome, antenna feed, LNA/LNB, power dividers, feed line, man-rated equipment space (rack mount), and electrical power

(b) Provide all terrestrial links between the satellite earth station servicing McMurdo Station with the McMurdo Station broadcast studio for the following functions: broadcast video feed, radio feed, and monitor/control of NMC provided AFRTS and affiliated equipment

(c) Provide all antenna towers necessary for local distribution of television signals to viewers via free-space transmission

(d) Provide secure facilities space, heat, light, and power for video, radio broadcast studio, radio production studio, and related storage requirements located in Building 155; location of studio space is at the discretion of NSF/OPP and subject to future change, if required. Any future change will be coordinated with NMC to insure suitability and allow for necessary scheduling during the annual technical event.

(e) Provide all community access television (CATV) distribution systems (cable, distribution amplifiers, passive electronics, premises distribution, etc.) required for McMurdo distribution to operational and living spaces

(f) Provide man-rated space, heat, light, and power for television and radio transmitters provided by NMC for local McMurdo distribution via free-space transmission

B. Navy Media Center

The Navy Media Center (NMC) shall exercise best efforts to:

(a) Provide all AFRTS satellite receiving and decryption hardware to support the following:

• Digital Downlink Service

PowerVu digital satellite receivers and affiliated equipment sufficient to support the simultaneous reception and recovery of three digital video carriers with associated radio feed subcarriers; sparing sufficient to allow for one hot spare digital receiver for remote patching by command from McMurdo. The control link will be responsibility of NSF/OPP.

(b) Provide legacy Navy Broadcasting Command Access Channel (CAC) equipment, with any necessary upward migration to newer generation equipment (e.g. 8mm tape) as NMC modernizes its inventory; this is to include all equipment used for the character scroll services broadcast locally at McMurdo

(c) Provide all legacy AFRTS FM radio station studio and production equipment (audio mixer boards, miscellaneous mixers, tape recorders, signal amplifiers, CD players, etc.), with any necessary upward migration to newer generation equipment as AFRTS modernizes its inventory. The legacy vinyl record library and playback equipment will be retained in “as-is” condition without sustaining support from NMC. The record library shall be subject to recall if it can no longer be maintained in accordance with AFRTS guidelines or when all desired selections have been dubbed to a more permanent media.

(d) Provide all legacy CATV head-end modulators and supply new head-end modulators, as required. Current capabilities are:

AFN - Pacific AFRTS NewSports AFRTS Spectrum AFRTS Community Scroll Local Weather Channel Operated by MAC Weather Air Transportation Office (ATO) Channel Operated by Movement Control Center Commander's Access Channel Local

(e) Provide all legacy FM radio transmitter equipment (compressor-limiters, stereo generators, exciter-transmitters) and studio-transmitter-link (STL) equipment

(f) Provide all legacy television transmitters (Channels 4 and 7) for operation on a best-level-of-effort basis; a sunset review will be conducted coincident with the March 1998 disestablishment of CNSFA

(g) Provide all requisite legacy radio and video test equipment necessary to support systems supplied by NMC

(h) Provide existing AFRTS Television Library (TL) programming and retain at McMurdo until AFRTS license rights expire, then return all programming to NMC for disposal per NMC direction.

(i) Provide legacy AFRTS CD Library music recordings and retain McMurdo as a rotation site for any future fresh materials

II. Christchurch, New Zealand

A. National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs (NSF/OPP), shall exercise best efforts to:

(a) With USAF, Provide all satellite earth station and supporting terrestrial infrastructure at the Antarctic Center for AFRTS satellite service downlinking (177° East INTELSAT) for service to the Antarctic Center, which includes the antenna, antenna feed, LNA/LNB, power dividers, feed line, man-rated equipment space (rack mount), and electrical power

(b) Provide all terrestrial links between the satellite earth station and the AFRTS equipment room at the Antarctic Center

(c) Provide facilities space, heat, light, and power for satellite receivers/decoders, cable modulators, accessory items and related storage requirements located in the Antarctic Center; location of equipment space is at the discretion of NSF/OPP and subject to future change if required Any required change will be coordinated with NMC to insure suitability for equipment and continuation of service.

B. Navy Media Center

The Navy Media Center (NMC) shall exercise best efforts to:

(a) Provide all AFRTS satellite receiving and decryption hardware to support the following:

• Digital Downlink Service

(b) Provide all legacy CATV head-end modulators and supply new head-end modulators, as required. Current capabilities are:

AFN - Pacific AFRTS NewSports AFRTS Spectrum AFRTS Air Transportation Office (ATO) Channel to be implemented at later date Commander's Access Channel to be implemented at later date