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

Operating Envelope Specification supports automated driving safety measurement, key to testing and public acceptance of automated vehicles

NIST Proposes Operating Envelope Specification Concept to Support Automated Driving Safety

December 6, 2021

NIST released its Special Publication 1900-301, Automated Driving System Safety Measurement Part I: Operating Envelope Specification. It presents a novel

NIST Helps OMG Update a Simulations Standard, Improving System Engineering

November 29, 2021

Disclaimer: Any mention of commercial products within NIST web pages is for information only; it does not imply recommendation or endorsement by NIST. The

PSCR Announces $7M Award Program

November 22, 2021

NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division recently released the Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program - 2022 (PSIAP-2022) funding

PSCR Staff Spotlight: Electronics Engineer Chelsea Greene

November 5, 2021

Chelsea Greene is an Electronics Engineer with the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division and has been with NIST since 2018. In this role, she

Events

Illustration of a city skyline silhouette. Text reads Signal Cohort Final Event Thursday Dec 9, 2021 9-11 AM MST. A registration link is provided. Thepulseaccelerator.com. Logos for Pulse Accelerator, NIST, and PSCR included.

Final Event for Round 2: Signal Cohort of the PULSE Accelerator

Thu, Dec 9 2021, 9:00 - 11:00am MST

Please join us for the final event for Round 2: Signal Cohort of the PULSE Accelerator, hosted by NIST PSCR and powered

Projects and Programs

5G & Beyond

Ongoing

“5G and beyond” refers to future generations of mobile wireless communication systems. The vision for these next-generation systems are to enable groundbreaking

700 MHz In-Building Coverage App & Measurement System Development

Ongoing

The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program is researching the development of in-building apps for RF coverage evaluation, which is critical for

A measurement-based approach to 5G supply chain security

Ongoing

Revolutionizing the American economy comes from advancements in communication networks that enable a fully connected world through millions of devices providing

Advanced High Frequency Devices

Ongoing

The Advanced High Frequency Devices Program develops measurement methods to determine the characteristics of advanced electronics and devices at high

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 Proposes Operating Envelope Specification Concept to Support Automated Driving Safety

NIST Helps OMG Update a Simulations Standard, Improving System Engineering

PSCR Announces $7M Award Program

PSCR Staff Spotlight: Electronics Engineer Chelsea Greene

Events

Final Event for Round 2: Signal Cohort of the PULSE Accelerator

Projects and Programs

5G & Beyond

700 MHz In-Building Coverage App & Measurement System Development

A measurement-based approach to 5G supply chain security

Advanced High Frequency Devices

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

Finding the STAMP of Human-Made Pollutants in Seabird Eggs

Detecting the Flavors of Important Elements With Neutron Depth Profiling

Creating and Commercializing the NIST RoboCrane

Post-Quantum Cryptography: A Q&A With NIST’s Matt Scholl

Contacts

Director, Communications Technology Lab and Director, NIST Boulder Laboratory