Governance of the radio spectrum: An actorcentric framework for analysis

Governance of the radio spectrum: An actorcentric framework for analysis

Anker, P.D.C.

Technology, Policy and Management

Values, Technology and Innovation

2013-12-31

This paper is intended to contribute to the debate on the best way forward in governance of the radio spectrum. The traditional spectrum management regime has shown a number of weaknesses: Some of the portions of the spectrum are hardly used, when considered in time and place, and the regime is slow in responding to changes in the market and to technology innovation. In pursuing improvements a variety of spectrum management models is available to coordinate access and to create the necessary incentives. These can be classified into three major clusters: (1) governmental control; (2) private property rights; and (3) open to all, with restrictions in the type of use or users. Within the radio spectrum governance paradigm a new balance is sought between the various institutional arrangements, including the role of markets, governmental involvement and private initiatives. In relaxing their control over the use of the radio spectrum governments face a dilemma. On the one hand they will be held accountable for the efficient use of the spectrum as a shared resource available to the society at large. On the other hand it is uncertain whether private actors will use the resource as intended to meet that goal. In addressing the dilemma that governments are facing the authors propose a framework for the analysis of this coordination problem. This framework is based on the Institutional Analysis and Development framework, with the emphasis on realising the objectives of both the government and the private actors. The contribution covers a first application of this framework focussed on the creation of institutional arrangements to facilitate successful deployment of cognitive radio technology

radio spectrum
governance
markets
regulations
cognitive radio

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:631f114c-06ac-4532-af65-564e4da2e25e

ICPP

1st International Conference on Public Policy ICPP 2013, Grenoble (France) 26-28 June, 2013

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2013 Anker, P.D.C.