The Spectrum Management Organization needs to communicate and consult with stakeholders to be effective. The spectrum manager needs to take effective measures to provide information on the policies, rules and practices of the administration and provide mechanisms for feedback to evaluate polices, rules and practices. Consultation is another means for building overall support for compliance by users. Another impetus for consultative mechanisms for stakeholders arises from the need for improved short term planning and assignment processes which reflect the economic value of spectrum to the public and improved transparency in decision-making. The discussion of consultative processes takes place within a broader discussion of the role, contribution and extent to which industry and stakeholder groups should participate in the implementation and monitoring of the broader agenda of planning and efficient usage of spectrum. Action based on partnerships and involvement of major groups opens up a wider political sphere for the participation of social and economic actors and constitutes a "bottom-up" source of strength.
Consultative processes occur at several levels including international and regional efforts and processes can be formalized, informal or ad hoc. Planning subjects range from policy and regulatory framework development and formulation through forecasting of demand and technology application to procedural such as channel planning for broadcasting frequencies.
Industry participants in various segments of the market – mobile, satellite, microwave and broadcasters should be encouraged to form associations which can formulate recommendations reflecting the common needs and interests of the sector. As well, the spectrum manager can request from the associations expert advice on contentious matters such as interference resolution solutions, band channeling plans and band clearing options. Individual licensees and users are not precluded from submitting formal briefs of their own in addition to the industry wide brief submitted to the regulator.