Next Era of Wireless and Spectrum | 24 549

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Next Era of Wireless and Spectrum (24-549)

1) What is the NSF "Next Era of Wireless and Spectrum" opportunity (24-549) about?

This NSF funding opportunity supports research that builds new, fundamental understanding of how the electromagnetic spectrum can be used and managed more effectively in the future. The program treats spectrum as a shared resource that underpins modern life, including scientific research, national security, commercial wireless services, and emerging technologies.

2) What kind of work is NSF looking to fund under this solicitation?

NSF is looking for research ideas that go beyond incremental improvements. The solicitation emphasizes rethinking core models and assumptions behind spectrum access, coordination, and governance, with the aim of developing fundamentally new paradigms and enabling technologies for future spectrum use.

3) Why is NSF emphasizing "fundamentally new paradigms" rather than incremental improvements?

The opportunity is motivated by rising demand for spectrum and the increasing strain on existing spectrum management and regulatory approaches. NSF is aiming to develop new approaches before spectrum scarcity and coordination costs become severe enough to slow innovation or disrupt critical services.

4) Does the program focus only on traditional wireless/radio spectrum?

No. The solicitation explicitly includes both radio and optical spectrum resources. This signals a broad scope that spans traditional wireless communications as well as technologies operating in optical bands.

5) What is the program's longer-term vision for spectrum management?

The solicitation points toward a transition away from the current spectrum era dominated by long-term, exclusive-use licensing and auction-based assignments. The end goal is to generate the intellectual foundation that would allow the United States to move smoothly and quickly to more effective approaches for managing spectrum resources while sustaining economic, social, scientific, and national leadership benefits tied to reliable spectrum access.

6) Which NSF directorates are involved?

This opportunity is coordinated across multiple NSF directorates: Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE).

7) What does the involvement of multiple directorates imply about proposal expectations?

The multi-directorate structure is a strong hint that NSF expects cross-disciplinary work. Proposals may draw from a wide range of disciplines, including technical foundations and socio-technical perspectives that connect technology with policy, incentives, governance, and real-world adoption.

8) What types of technical topics are within scope (based on the description provided)?

The description indicates interest in areas such as wireless systems, networking, signal processing, hardware, propagation, sensing, sharing mechanisms, and related foundations, especially when they contribute to new spectrum access and management paradigms.

9) Is social science or policy research relevant to this program?

Yes. The inclusion of SBE indicates interest in spectrum as a socio-technical system. This can include how policies, incentives, human behavior, market structures, governance models, and institutional constraints interact with technical designs and how new spectrum-sharing regimes could be adopted in practice.

10) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses a discretionary grant funding instrument under the broad category of science and technology and other research and development.

11) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The listed CFDA numbers are 47.041, 47.049, 47.070, and 47.075. These reflect NSF-wide research funding streams rather than a single narrow program area.

12) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $800,000.

13) How many awards does NSF expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expected total of 24 awards.

14) What is the proposal submission deadline listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date for proposal submission is May 28, 2024.

15) When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on February 22, 2024.

16) Who is eligible to apply as an organization?

Eligibility is limited to two main applicant types: (1) U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations directly associated with education or research activities (examples include independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies), and (2) U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (two-year or four-year, including community colleges) that are accredited and have a campus located in the United States.

17) Can an accredited community college apply?

Yes. The eligibility description includes two-year institutions and explicitly mentions community colleges, as long as they are accredited and have a campus located in the United States.

18) Can a U.S. university apply on behalf of its faculty?

Yes. U.S. Institutions of Higher Education may apply on behalf of their faculty if they meet the accreditation and U.S.-campus requirements described in the opportunity.

19) Are for-profit organizations eligible to submit proposals as the applicant?

Based on the eligibility description provided, the eligible non-academic applicant type is limited to U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations associated with education or research activities. For-profit non-academic organizations are not listed as eligible applicant organizations in the information provided.

20) Can a proposal include an international branch campus of a U.S. university?

International components are not prohibited, but special justification is required. If a proposal includes funding that would flow to an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that overseas participation benefits the project and why the work cannot be performed at the U.S. campus instead.

21) Does the solicitation allow international participation at all?

The information provided indicates international participation is possible, but when funding would flow to an international branch campus, the proposal must include a strong, specific rationale explaining the benefit and why the work cannot be done at the U.S. campus.

22) Who can serve as PI, co-PI, or other senior/key personnel?

By the submission deadline, any PI, co-PI, or other senior/key personnel must hold either (a) a tenured or tenure-track position, or (b) a primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position, at a U.S.-based campus of an eligible Institution of Higher Education or at an eligible non-profit non-academic organization.

23) Are there any exceptions to PI/senior personnel appointment requirements?

Limited exceptions may be granted for family or medical leave, as determined by the submitting organization.

24) Can someone primarily employed by a for-profit company be PI or co-PI?

No. Individuals whose primary appointment is at a for-profit non-academic organization are not eligible to serve as PI, co-PI, or other senior/key personnel under this solicitation.

25) Can someone based at an overseas branch campus of a U.S. institution serve as PI or senior/key personnel?

No. Individuals whose primary appointment is at an overseas branch campus of a U.S. Institution of Higher Education are not eligible to serve as PI, co-PI, or other senior/key personnel for this opportunity.

26) Can industry still participate in projects if industry personnel cannot be senior/key personnel?

The information provided notes that teams may include industry collaborators, but the rules restrict who can formally serve as PI/co-PI/senior/key personnel. Industry participation may still occur in other capacities, even though individuals with primary appointments at for-profit non-academic organizations cannot hold PI/co-PI/senior/key roles.

27) What is the core problem NSF is trying to address with this program?

NSF is responding to increasing strain on current spectrum management and regulatory approaches as demand rises. The program aims to prevent spectrum constraints and coordination costs from becoming bottlenecks that slow innovation or disrupt critical services.

28) What outcomes is NSF hoping to enable for the United States?

The solicitation positions the program as a forward-looking investment to sustain the economic, social, scientific, and national leadership benefits that depend on reliable spectrum access, while supporting a smoother transition to more effective spectrum management approaches.