Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 4650.01
January 9, 2009
ASD(NII)
SUBJECT: Policy and Procedures for Management and Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 4650.1 (Reference (a)) as a DoD Instruction in
accordance with the guidance in DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5025.01 (Reference (b)) and the
authority in DoDD 5144.1 (Reference (c)).
b. Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides instructions for management and
use of the electromagnetic spectrum in accordance with Reference (c).
c. Implements section 305 and chapter 8 of title 47, United States Code (Reference (d));
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11, Part 2, Sec. 33.4 (Reference (e)); and
the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Radio Frequency Management (Reference (f)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense (hereafter
referred to collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS
. See Glossary.
4. POLICY
. It is DoD policy that:
a. The electromagnetic spectrum (hereafter referred to as “spectrum”) is a critical resource,
and access to the spectrum is vital to the support of military operations. Proper management and
use of the spectrum available to the Department of Defense shall be an integral part of military
