Using Spectrum: The Technical and Economic Aspects of Managing and Using Radio Spectrum

Instructor: Dr. William Webb, former Chief Technology Officer of Ofcom (the UK's communications regulator), and now Chief Technology Officer of Access Partnership

Note: This course overlaps with the CEE-TP course, Spectrum Management, taught by Jon Peha. We discourage individuals from taking both of these courses.

Course description
This course will teach participants why spectrum needs to be regulated and how it can best be managed. The first part provides background to what spectrum is currently used for and how it is regulated both nationally and internationally. It provides the technical insight needed to underpin nearly all aspects of spectrum management including how signals propagate and how they interfere and why avoidance of harmful interference is one of the key reasons for managing spectrum.

The second part looks at the economics of spectrum. It sets out why economic benefit is the best way to optimize usage and the economic tools that can be used to determine who should have access. It provides an overview to the use of auctions, trading and spectrum pricing as market mechanisms for spectrum management.

The third part looks at shared access to spectrum as a way to optimize usage and encourage innovation. It considers spectrum commons, looking at the benefits and constraints and considering the tragedy of the commons. It then looks at dynamic database access as a future mechanism to deliver significant benefits.

Finally it touches upon the issues of poorly performing receivers and how to best regulate receivers to avoid issues such as the recent 5G-avaition concerns. The last part looks forward to the world in 10 and 20 years’ time and asks what the implications would be for spectrum, drawing out conclusions as to likely pinch points and where new approaches might be needed. Finally, there is a chance to review the entire course content and discuss.

• This course is intended for people with a professional interest in spectrum management, which could include most of those at a spectrum regulator, policymakers setting legislation or strategy, those in the private sector working for companies that use spectrum, academics with an interest in spectrum and regulation and strategists working in the digital space.
• Upon completing the course, participants will have greater understanding of all aspects of spectrum management and in particular will have detailed knowledge of the fundamentals underpinning key management decisions.
• No prior knowledge of radio spectrum is required. Some basic mathematical and economic understanding would be helpful but not essential.

See Dr. Webb’s book on “Spectrum Management: Using the Airwaves for Maximum
Social and Economic Benefit”