Develop Opportunistic Uses of Spectrum

Recommendation #41

FCC Chapter: 5.13

Status: In progress

The Federal Communications Commission should spur further development and deployment of opportunistic uses across more radio spectrum.

Given the upside potential of these technologies, the FCC and NTIA should take steps to expand the environment in which new, opportunistic -- or cognitive -- technologies can be developed and improved.

The FCC should take two actions to accelerate the development of opportunistic use technologies and expand access to additional spectrum:

1. allow opportunistic radios to operate on spectrum currently held by the FCC (such as in certain license areas where spectrum was not successfully auctioned), and
2. initiate a proceeding that examines ways to extend the geo-location database concept, currently being implemented in the TV bands, to additional spectrum bands that are made available for access by opportunistic radios.

The FCC should determine which particular frequency bands should be identified for opportunistic use and what specific information may need to be included in the relevant database. Such determination should also include whether and to what extent the FCC should exclude LPTV band devices in the border areas with Mexico and Canada, including the Tribal lands in those areas, and whether to allow higher power fixed operations in rural areas, which often include Tribal lands.