Does Cognitive Radio Need Policy Innovation?

Abstract

This contribution addresses the impact of cognitive radio on the regime of radio spectrum governance. To avoid harmful interference the current paradigm of spectrum governance uses the principle of separation. Thereby each application and user or user group is being assigned a specific part of the spectrum for a specific location. Cognitive radio defies this principle because cognitive radios monitor the spectrum and select an unused part for their transmission. This capability provides a new solution in addressing the issue of spectrum scarcity. However, its dynamic operating principle to access spectrum runs counter to the prevailing static spectrum management method. The focus of this contribution is on the implications of dynamic spectrum access for national and international spectrum policy in the light of the current practice of assignments based on (exclusive) usage rights and prescribed applications.