International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies (ISART)™ 2026: Sketching a Spectrum Management Blueprint

The International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies (ISART)™ is a U.S. government-sponsored conference hosted by the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), the science and engineering laboratory of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). ISART is a science and engineering discussion-based conference that brings together government, industry, and academic leaders (both domestic and international) for the purpose of forecasting the development and application of advanced radio technologies. For over two decades, ISART has contributed scientific and technical input towards encouraging sound, forward-looking spectrum management and regulatory policies that rely on careful engineering and ground-breaking research. The focus of ISART is to engage in a wide-ranging technical discussion. ISART 2026 will open a multi-year exploration into the "next major breakthrough" in spectrum capacity, asking what innovations will allow for maximizing spectrum use to meet growing demands. Key themes for 2026 include Data Foundations for AI/ML (defining, collecting, and standardizing datasets for advanced AI/ML models for spectrum management), AI/ML Applications for Autonomous Spectrum Operations (developing tools for cooperative system operation and interference avoidance across commercial, federal, and mixed-use environments), and Hardware Evolutions for Next-Generation Spectrum Use (examining sensor fusion, radio architectures, and innovations for dynamic spectrum use). Attendees will have the opportunity to actively contribute to and shape the future of spectrum through collaborative, technically rigorous dialogue.