Sharing Government Spectrum: Some Technical Alternatives

Afrustrating aspect of spectrum policy is the fact that in virtually every band one looks at, in most locations one finds spectrum that appears to be underutilized. (Admittedly this is complicated by the fact that there is no general consensus on how to quantify spectrum utilization.) There are many reasons for this apparent underutilization, including uneven terrain and nonuniform spatial distribution of needs for spectrum access. But a major factor concerns spectrum uses with high societal and economic value, with large peak-to-average usage ratios and society placing a very high value on requiring that certain of these uses must have immediate access to spectrum when they need it. With traditional spectrum policies this requires dedicated spectrum. Such highly societal value uses include public safety communications and military communications.