Some authorization activities associated with spectrum management include licensing, examination, certification of radio operators, equipment, type approval, type acceptance and international notification and registration. In terms of licences, there are various types, including individual licences, system licences, class licences, general licences, etc. Some uses of spectrum are not licensed. It is important, however, to recognize that unlicensed does not necessarily mean unregulated since equipment may still need to meet certain technical standards.
Of particular importance given the expansion of mobile telecom services and liberalization of telecom markets in developing and emerging economies, is the authorization of spectrum in connection with licensing of the provision of telecommunications services. It is necessary, for instance, to authorize cellular service providers to use the required spectrum as well as authorizing them to operate the cellular networks.
It is important that the regulatory process facilitates granting, at virtually the same time, authorizations to operate a telecommunication service and to use the required radio spectrum. There should be no delays or risks of inconsistent regulatory requirements as between the two types of authorizations. This is also the case for authorizing broadcasting undertakings. If two separate authorizations are issued, they should be issued simultaneously.
A number of methods are used to manage processes by which access to spectrum may be granted. These include “on a first come-first served basis”, a reserved basis for certain uses or users in a form of a-priori planning and so-called beauty contests which may be held to decide who will be assigned certain frequencies or bands of frequencies. Economic methods such as lotteries or auctions as discussed elsewhere in this paper may also be employed. There are clear advantages and disadvantages for each method and these are explored in more detail below and in Section 4.0 Spectrum Pricing.
Improved technology used in analyzing spectrum use (See Spectrum Monitoring Activities Section 5.2.3) and information systems are playing increasingly important roles in assigning and keeping track of spectrum use as well as administrative functions such as collection of licence fees and preparing submissions of various information to other countries or to the ITU where required. It is very important tailor systems and the application of such technologies to the real requirements and to the resources available. Maintenance of any such information systems must be ensured which underlines the need for competency in such systems.
No matter what method for assigning frequencies is adopted, some level of spectrum engineering support is required to ensure, inter alia, that the use of frequencies authorized will not result in interference or to resolve any cases of intra-national or international interference that might arise. Such capability is also required to assess, for example, some of the newer technologies such as software defined radio equipment.
The next sections discuss Assigning Frequencies and related sub-topics including Methods for Assigning Frequencies, Relation to Other Authorizations and the important subject of the Impact of Technological Innovation and the Impact on Authorization as well as a providing an overview of several technical topics such as Certification of Radio Operators and Equipment Authorization.
RELATED INFORMATION
Authorization of Telecommunications Services Module – Section 6.6 Spectrum Authorization