The open-access debate over spectrum

The open-access debate over spectrum
Why not let public safety and commercial operators share the same band?
Craig Mathias Today’s Top Stories or Other Wireless Networking Stories
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June 19, 2007 (Computerworld) -- If you've been following the developments surrounding the upcoming 700-MHz auctions, you've probably heard the term "open access" by now.




Like 4G (which I'll return to shortly), open access is a somewhat imprecise term, but I'm using it here to refer to a network that is capable of supporting multiple classes of service simultaneously via a common set of protocols. With respect to the latter, that would be IP, the only networking protocol that matters anymore. The benefits of the open-access approach are significant and far-reaching, and they have led me to conclude that this is the only way we should be building commercial and public-safety networks going forward.


Why is this important? Well, spectrum is a scarce, expensive commodity thanks to the laws of physics and the auction process that is used to allocate licensed spectrum in most parts of the industrialized world today. The laws of physics are a problem because propagation characteristics vary with frequency -- higher frequencies are more directional and don't usually penetrate buildings very well. This means that only a very limited amount of spectrum is suitable for mobile communications. The auction process makes this limited spectrum expensive, with the auctions cleverly designed to raise the maximum amount of money for the U.S. Treasury.


OK, so spectrum is scarce and expensive and some of the best of this will shortly be going on the block as the FCC starts auctioning the 700-MHz bands. This spectrum is right below the 800-MHz bands used for cellular and public safety, and public safety (along with commercial interests with really, really deep pockets) is going to be a big recipient of spectrum under the proposed rules.


But wait just a minute: Why not build a single, open-access network that can meet the needs of both the commercial world and public safety, simultaneously? That's right, both in one service. Heresy!


Traditionally, blocks of spectrum have been exclusively reserved for public safety because that's historically how it's been done. And the technology of the day -- analog push-to-talk radio -- basically required reserved spectrum. This is wasteful, when you think about it. Much public-safety spectrum is unused much of the time and isn't available to anyone else. But modern digital communications technology, based on IP, allows for prioritizing traffic, at least within a single network.

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