Communications Technology Laboratory

CTL promotes the development and deployment of advanced communications technologies through the dissemination of high-quality measurements, data, and research supporting U.S. innovation, industrial competitiveness, and public safety.

5G Coexistence Testbed for Today’s Challenges and Tomorrow’s Opportunities

The resiliency of the American workforce depends on trusted communications systems now, more than ever...

CTL Demo Adds Key Capability to Atom-Based Radio Communications

This gets us one step closer to a true atom-based communication system to benefit 5G and Beyond...

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

NIST has developed a method for using radio signals to create real-time images and videos of hidden and moving objects...

News and Updates

NIST Prize Challenge Launches Research for Unmanned Aircraft in Search and Rescue

July 7, 2021

BOULDER, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new prize competition to advance the use

A woman wearing a face mask works at a laptop with communications equipment on the desk.

Spotlight: Finding the Fix to Wireless Connectivity on the Fritz With Susanna Mosleh

June 29, 2021

When the Wi-Fi is wonky or there’s bad cellphone reception, Susanna Mosleh can’t ignore it. After all, her research at NIST is about finding solutions to those

Human figure stands facing large wooden board. Behind that is a row of tubes sticking up from a base.

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

June 25, 2021

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Wavsens LLC have developed a method for using radio signals to create real-time

NIST Joins Department of Commerce and Colorado Governor Polis to Celebrate Pride

June 15, 2021

NIST's Communication Technology Laboratory (CTL) was honored to take part in the June 14 Department of Commerce PRIDE panel discussion. The webinar highlighted

Events

PSCR Webinar: UAS Triple Challenge - Drones for First Responders

Tue, Aug 24 2021, 10:00 - 11:00am MDT

This August, NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research Division will host a webinar featuring the First Responder UAS

Projects and Programs

Electric-acoustic spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions in solution

NIST’s Material Measurement Laboratory and Communications Technology Laboratory are developing a new spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions. The team is

Optical Networking of Superconducting Quantum Nodes with Transduction Devices

A collaborative team working to establish the science and technology of networks for superconducting quantum computers by demonstrating the world’s first

Public Safety 700-MHz Broadband Deployable Systems

The use of deployable systems in public safety operations can help provide first responders with critical communications in areas that do not have sufficient

Citizens Broadband Radio Service

The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band is 150 MHz of new spectrum made available for commercial broadband use on a shared basis with the federal

Industry Impacts

Propagation-Channel Measurements and Hardware Verification

Alliance for 5G Networks

The next generation of wireless communications technology will allow many more devices to send information much faster, making possible everything from virtual

Photo of NIST scientists with the PSCR Deployable LTE Cell-on-Wheels

First Responder Communications

First responders must be able to communicate during an emergency. Too often in critical situations, communications among public safety agencies are hampered by

Tools and Instruments

This is a photo of a man in an augmented reality headset looking at the hologram of an IED.

Public Safety Communication Innovation Laboratory

Built in 2018, the PSCR Innovation Laboratory is focused on next-generation communication capabilities for first responders. The PSCR lab maintains a modernized

LTE Coverage Tool

This experimental application was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR)

Awards

Mary Theofanos demonstrates NIST-designed fingerprint overlays on a fingerprint-scanning system in 2011.

Mary Theofanos Honored with INCITS Award

Mary Frances Theofanos is recognized for numerous contributions to the INICTS/M1 – Biometrics and INCITS/SSE – Software and Systems

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Jason Coder, Adam Wunderlich, Michael Frey, Daniel Kuester, Azizollah Kord, Jolene Splett, John Ladbury, Robert Horansky, Duncan McGillivray

For development and execution of complex factor screening of wireless emissions from LTE cellular devices to enable efficient use of scarce spectrum.

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Angela Stelson, Christian Long, Nathan Orloff, James Booth

For the development and application of novel microwave microfluidic techniques to quantify the electromagnetic response of complex fluids.

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Joshua A. Gordon

For the development of the Pixel Probe Coordinate Measurement System, which has enabled unprecedented high-frequency antenna alignment accuracy.

Communications Technology Laboratory

CTL promotes the development and deployment of advanced communications technologies through the dissemination of high-quality measurements, data, and research supporting U.S. innovation, industrial competitiveness, and public safety.

5G Coexistence Testbed for Today’s Challenges and Tomorrow’s Opportunities

CTL Demo Adds Key Capability to Atom-Based Radio Communications

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

Our Focus Areas

News and Updates

NIST Prize Challenge Launches Research for Unmanned Aircraft in Search and Rescue

Spotlight: Finding the Fix to Wireless Connectivity on the Fritz With Susanna Mosleh

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

NIST Joins Department of Commerce and Colorado Governor Polis to Celebrate Pride

Events

PSCR Webinar: UAS Triple Challenge - Drones for First Responders

Projects and Programs

Electric-acoustic spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions in solution

Optical Networking of Superconducting Quantum Nodes with Transduction Devices

Public Safety 700-MHz Broadband Deployable Systems

Citizens Broadband Radio Service

Industry Impacts

Alliance for 5G Networks

First Responder Communications

Tools and Instruments

Public Safety Communication Innovation Laboratory

LTE Coverage Tool

Awards

Mary Theofanos Honored with INCITS Award

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Jason Coder, Adam Wunderlich, Michael Frey, Daniel Kuester, Azizollah Kord, Jolene Splett, John Ladbury, Robert Horansky, Duncan McGillivray

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Angela Stelson, Christian Long, Nathan Orloff, James Booth

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Joshua A. Gordon

Taking Measure Blog

DNA Mixture Interpretations: A Q&A With NIST’s John Butler

Eavesdropping on Hormones to Help Understand Reproduction

Creating a PFAS-Contaminated Meat SRM: A Q&A With NIST Chemists Melissa Phillips and Ben Place

50 Years of the ‘Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data’: A Q&A With Editors Allan Harvey and Don Burgess

Contacts

Director, Communications Technology Lab and Director, NIST Boulder Laboratory