WASHINGTON-The software-defined radio community came together June 20 to address the current state of SDR regulation, but it was an uncomfortable discussion for some participants.
“Some people don’t want to talk about SDRs because they don’t want to invite regulation. At the same time, they want to hold regulators to finding globally harmonized spectrum for specific devices so they can be sold for a dollar cheaper,” said Mike Chartier, director of spectrum policy, technology policy and standards for Intel Corp.
Managing spectrum has always been contradictory. It isn’t useful that regulations vary from country to country, but it is really not useful when you consider that regulations differ from band to band.
But help could be on the way in the form of SDRs or cognitive radio. While there was some debate about whether SDRs are the same as cognitive radios, there seemed to be a general interchangeability of the terms throughout the day.
“It is essential to have devices that can operate over multiple bands and technologies. No matter how hard we try, we will always have different spectrum allocations,” said FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.
Adelstein said he also likes SDRs because they are smart. “That is the beauty of cognitive radio. It is both intelligent and polite. It is smart enough to recognize a vacant channel, but is well-mannered enough to vacate that channel when someone else needs to use it,” he said.
The only entrepreneur to present at the daylong forum had an even more expansive view.
“I think SDR or cognitive radio will negate the need for licensed spectrum,” said Marlon Schafer, founder and director of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association.
While Schafer’s view may seem like science fiction because it is almost impossible to imagine a world without at least some type of spectrum management including exclusive licensing, many throughout the day kept saying the market or industry is smarter than regulators.
“I don’t think we are going to put the regulators out of business,” said Rob Kubik, manager of spectrum and regulatory policy for Motorola Inc.
“We like standards. We don’t like regulation. We think the market is where standards are developed,” said Intel’s Chartier.
“It is markets, not regulators, that make the best use of spectrum,” said Charla Rath, executive director of spectrum policy for Verizon Wireless.
Another problem with regulation is that it can’t keep up with technology, said Chartier.
“Nobody knows what technologies the future will bring,” said Chartier. “By definition there is a delay. For example, in New Jersey it is illegal for me to drive and hold my cell phone up to my ear, but it is not illegal for me to drive and send a text message from my Blackberry.”
Currently regulators are involved in spectrum management, and in its role as spectrum regulator, the Federal Communications Commission has set out rules for certifying SDR devices. At least one company, Vanu Inc.-the first company to receive SDR product approval-likes the rules and the process.
“At least with device certification, the FCC rules work pretty well,” said John Chapin, Vanu chief technology officer. “We have set up some good law, and it will make it easier for others and for us as we go forward.”
SDRs were highly favored by former FCC Chairman Michael Powell and they may be key to another Powell initiative, ultra-wideband technology, said Chartier. “A cognitive radio may be the only device, may be the only way to deploy ultra-wideband in multiple countries and multiple bands,” he said.
