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A policy spectrum for spectrum economics

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  • Freyens, Benoît

Abstract

Recent reforms to radio spectrum regulation have sparked controversy over the respective merits of two mutually exclusive liberalization regimes: property rights and commons. This debate is restrictive because it is largely incomplete and misunderstood. It is also costly in terms of opposition and delays to reforms. Goals of efficient spectrum allocation are better served by a wider policy toolkit, inclusive of hybrid and intermediary regimes. In this article I sketch the contours of a [`]spectrum of spectrum regimes', triangulating regulatory, private ownership and unlicensed approaches. I illustrate this triangulated model, which I then apply to confront allocative decisions in digital dividend policy, such as the FCC's open access clause in the 700Â MHz auction and Ofcom's current review of UHF spectrum release in the 800Â MHz band.

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  • Freyens, Benoît, 2009. "A policy spectrum for spectrum economics," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 128-144, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:21:y:2009:i:2:p:128-144
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Grønnevet, Gorm A. & Hansen, Bjørn & Reme, Bjørn-Atle, 2016. "Spectrum policy and competition in mobile data," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 34-41.
    2. Anker, Peter, 2017. "From spectrum management to spectrum governance," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 486-497.
    3. Durantini, Annalisa & Martino, Mauro, 2013. "The spectrum policy reform paving the way to cognitive radio enabled spectrum sharing," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 87-95.
    4. Freyens, Benoît Pierre & Loney, Mark, 2013. "Emerging issues in white space regulation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 208-218.
    5. El-Moghazi, Mohamed & Whalley, Jason & Irvine, James, 2017. "The Future of International Radio Regulations: Transformation Towards Sharing," 28th European Regional ITS Conference, Passau 2017 169457, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    6. Minervini, Leo Fulvio, 2014. "Spectrum management reform: Rethinking practices," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 136-146.
    7. Benoît Pierre Freyens & Chris Jones, 2014. "Efficient Allocation of Radio Spectrum," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 16(1), pages 1-23, February.
    8. Chou, Yuntsai, 2014. "A compensation model developed to liberalize spectrum in the G4 era," 20th ITS Biennial Conference, Rio de Janeiro 2014: The Net and the Internet - Emerging Markets and Policies 106897, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    9. Benoît P. Freyens, 2012. "Licensing Options for Digital Dividend Spectrum: An Australian Perspective," Chapters, in: Gerald R. Faulhaber & Gary Madden & Jeffrey Petchey (ed.), Regulation and the Performance of Communication and Information Networks, chapter 12, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. Freyens, Benoît Pierre & Loney, Mark & Dissanayake, Tharaka, 2014. "Dynamic usage of narrowband spectrum," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 173-185.
    11. Chou, Yuntsai & Hu, Weimin & Lien, Hsienming, 2015. "A compensation model developed to increase spectrum usage efficiency in the 4G era," 2015 Regional ITS Conference, Los Angeles 2015 146334, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    12. Massaro, Maria & Beltrán, Fernando, 2020. "Will 5G lead to more spectrum sharing? Discussing recent developments of the LSA and the CBRS spectrum sharing frameworks," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7).
    13. El-Moghazi, Mohamed & Whalley, Jason & Irvine, James, 2019. "Technology neutrality: Exploring the interaction between International Mobile Telecommunication and national spectrum management policies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 531-548.
    14. Massaro, Maria & Pogorel, Gérard, 2015. "Next generation of radio spectrum management licensed shared access and the trade-off between static and dynamic efficiency," 2015 Regional ITS Conference, Los Angeles 2015 146322, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    15. Thaw Tar Min & Fife, Elizabeth & Bohlin, Erik, 2014. "Myanmar national spectrum management policy: Is it best practice?," 25th European Regional ITS Conference, Brussels 2014 101431, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    16. Basaure, Arturo & Marianov, Vladimir & Paredes, Ricardo, 2015. "Implications of dynamic spectrum management for regulation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 563-579.
    17. Jain, Rekha & Dara, Rishabh, 2017. "Framework for evolving spectrum management regimes: Lessons from India," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 473-485.
    18. Beltrán, Fernando & Massaro, Maria, 2018. "Spectrum management for 5G: assignment methods for spectrum sharing," 29th European Regional ITS Conference, Trento 2018 184932, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    19. Massaro, Maria & Pogorel, Gérard & Bohlin, Erik, 2015. "Next Generation of Radio Spectrum Management: Licensed Shared Access and the trade-off between Static and Dynamic Efficiency," 26th European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2015 127164, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).

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