Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum

Speaking at a national Science Foundation workshop on access to spectrum, Federal Communications Commission member Meredith Attwell Baker addressed the national goal of making 500 Megahertz of spectrum available for wireless broadband.

She said reaching the goal will take action on several fronts: 1) spectrum reallocations, which can be costly, controversial and time consuming, 2) more traditional spectrum trading, which can be relatively straight forward, 3) comprehensive new approaches to dynamic spectrum access that are technologically advanced, rules-based, informed by an up-to-date, intelligent and interactive database, and powered by cognitive radios.

She asked NSF for more and better research in the area of spectrum access and use to address this country's spectrum requirements. She noted that the National Broadband Plan recommends that the NSF, in consultation with the FCC and NTIA, fund wireless research and development that will advance the science of spectrum access.