Spectrum Allocation, Spectrum Commons and Public Goods: the Role of the Market

The reallocation of radio spectrum to valuable new and emerging technologies and services is essential to achieving the next wave of productivity and consumer benefits driven by ICT. Currently spectrum is not allocated to the most valuable uses, particularly the large amount of spectrum held for government use, and command and control management cannot respond fully or quickly in reallocating spectrum. To achieve a more economically efficient allocation and the greatest overall benefit market mechanisms including trading and spectrum pricing must be introduced. Complementary reforms in areas other than spectrum management will be required, and the appropriate boundary between market and non-market allocation mechanisms need to be established. Setting clear principles regarding the market/non-market boundary will help in resisting the inevitable rent seeking by incumbents and potential entrants during the transition to market mechanisms. Countries that do not face up to these challenges and move quickly will see their citizens disadvantaged as spectrum becomes a key economic resource.spectrum policy, auctions, trading, spectrum pricing, digital switchover, real options, public sector use, licence exempt use, infrastructure, Competition Policy

Managing the radio spectrum : framework for reform in developing countries

Bringing management of the radio spectrum closer to markets is long overdue. The radio spectrum is a major component of the infrastructure that underpins the information society. Spectrum management, however, has not kept up with major changes in technology, business practice, and economic policy that have taken place worldwide during the last two decades. For many years traditional government administration of the spectrum worked reasonably well, but more recently it has led to growing technical and economic inefficiencies as well as obstacles to technological innovation. Two alternative approaches to spectrum management are being tried in several countries, one driven by the market (tradable spectrum rights) and another driven by technology innovation (spectrum commons). This paper discusses the basic features, advantages and limitations, scope of application, and requirements for implementation of these three approaches. The paper then discusses how these approaches can be made to work under conditions that typically prevail in developing countries, including weak rule of law, limited markets, and constrained fiscal space. Although spectrum reform strategies for individual countries must be developed case by case, several broadly applicable strategic options are outlined. The paper proposes a phased approach to addressing spectrum reform in a country. It ends by discussing aspects of institutional design, managing the transition, and addressing high-level changes such as the transition to digital television, the path to third-generation mobile services, launching of wireless fixed broadband services, and releasing military spectrum. The paper is extensively annotated and referenced.E-Business,Roads&Highways,Telecommunications Infrastructure,Climate Change,ICT Policy and Strategies

Nine Regimes of Radio Spectrum Management: A 4-Step Decision Guide

Diverse radio spectrum management regimes are defined according to 4 levels of options: - Should frequencies be allocated according to a harmonised plan? - Should the technologies allowed be standardised? - Should spectrum usage rights be exclusive, eased, or collective? - Should usage rights be assigned through market mechanisms (auctions and trading), administrative procedures, or hybrid procedures? These guidelines propose a balanced set of decision criteria, thus allowing the completion of rigorous impact assessments. It describes the possible regimes resulting from the combined choices. The taxonomy illustrates the possible rationales for a diversity of regimes broader than the usually exposed standard trilogy of Command and Control, Market and Commons: This includes Harmonised neutrality, Administered neutrality, Technology neutrality in Command and Control context, Harmonised neutrality Plus, Private Commons and California Dream. The nine regimes described can also be considered as a map with which to navigate in order to accommodate institutional and technological transitions over time. This allows decision-makers to come-up with informed choices using all the technical information available, and based on definite criteria and a rigorous methodology.radio spectrum;spectrum policy; telecom regulation; spectrum regimes

Spectrum review: potential reform directions

The purpose of this review is to ensure Australia\u27s spectrum policy and management framework framework will serve the country well into the future, and to examine what policy and regulatory changes are needed to meet current challenges. Introduction On 23 May 2014 the Minister for Communications, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, announced a review of spectrum policy arrangements. The review is an opportunity to boost innovation and productivity with resulting benefits to the broader community. It is also part of the Government’s commitment to streamlining regulation and cutting red tape. The Department of Communications (the Department) is undertaking the review in conjunction with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Terms of Reference for the review were released with the Minister’s announcement along with an issues paper seeking stakeholder feedback. The review will report to the Minister in early 2015. Implementation of reforms will likely commence in 2015 but the Department is seeking feedback from stakeholders on sequencing and timing. This paper provides context and suggests some reform principles and options for discussion. These have been prepared after consideration of stakeholder feedback on the issues paper. The proposals are not intended to cover the full range of possible reforms and feedback as to amendments or additional proposals is welcome. The proposals do not represent the final views of the Department or the views of the Australian Government

Management of International Capital Flows: The Indian Experience

In this paper we devise quantitative techniques to analyze the management of foreign capital flows in India over the past three decades. The paper argues that India's overall approach towards liberalization of the capital account can be characterized as gradualist and calibrated, whereby certain agents and flows have been accorded priority in the liberalization process, from the viewpoint of ensuring financial stability. A cross country analysis indicates that the calibrated approach has resulted in India being ranked towards the lower end of the spectrum in terms of capital account openness. We analyze the extant regulations governing different types of foreign capital flow, and highlight the evolution of various types of capital flows over the recent period. To evaluate Indian macroeconomic management in the face of capital flows, we quantify the various policy options under the classic problem of "impossible trinity". We find that India, like other emerging markets, has also been confronted with the various alternatives under "impossible trinity" and has chosen to adopt an intermediate regime, juggling the objectives of monetary independence, exchange rate stability, and an open capital account as per the needs of the economy.Capital Flows; Impossible Trinity; Macroeconomic Management

Capital Flows and the Impossible Trinity: The Indian Experience.

In this paper we devise quantitative techniques to analyze the management of foreign capital flows in India over the past three decades. The paper argues that India0s overall approach towards liberalization of the capital account can be characterized as gradualist and calibrated, whereby certain agents and ows have been accorded priority in the liberalization process, from the viewpoint of ensuring financial stability. A cross country analysis indicates that the calibrated approach has resulted in India being ranked towards the lower end of the spectrum in terms of capital account openness. We analyze the extant regulations governing different types of foreign capital flow, and highlight the evolution of various types of capital ows over the recent period. To evaluate Indian macroeconomic management in the face of capital flows, we quantify the various policy options under the classic problem of "impossible trinity". We find that India, like other emerging markets, has also been confronted with the various alternatives under "impossible trinity" and has chosen to adopt an intermediate regime, juggling the objectives of monetary independence, exchange rate stability, and an open capital account as per the needs of the economy.

Hidden Costs Of The Wireless Broadband Lifestyle: Comparing Consumer Protections In The United States, Canada, And The European Union

Spurred by relatively inexpensive and widely available retail equipment and increased residential Internet penetration, consumer demand for more wireless broadband options continues at a rapid rate. Now, with consumers increasingly looking for mobile Internet interconnectivity over greater distances and with greater flexibility, technology companies are pushing the next generation of wireless broadband technologies with the promise of freeing consumers from location-based Internet access. These newer technologies can provide robust video and audio capabilities, such as digital television, on-demand video, and VoIP on a variety of digital devices. Yet, the rise of wireless broadband networks and the roll-out of new technologies pose new public policy and regulatory challenges for spectrum management. If these issues are not addressed, rather than yielding ultimately beneficial private, public, and commercial uses of spectrum, the result could be detrimental frequency interference with negative impacts on equipment functionality, the integrity and reliability of networks, and the quality of service for spectrum-dependent commercial services

Spectrum Trading: An Abstracted Bibliography

This document contains a bibliographic list of major papers on spectrum trading and their abstracts. The aim of the list is to offer researchers entering this field a fast panorama of the current literature. The list is continually updated on the webpage \url{http://www.disp.uniroma2.it/users/naldi/Ricspt.html}. Omissions and papers suggested for inclusion may be pointed out to the authors through e-mail (\textit{[email protected]})

Designing and Managing Innovation Portfolios

This rapid literature review summarises the existing evidence on the design and management of innovation portfolios of organizations from the private sector, public sector and NGOs. This report provides a review of academic papers, policy briefs, and other reports on the topic. The design of innovation portfolios can be based on different models. Some of the most important approaches include Innovation Ambition Matrix, Innovation life cycle portfolio model, Impact-feasibility portfolio model and Options portfolio model. The design and management of innovation portfolios are presented in the second and third section respectively. It includes the discussion on the strategies, systems and challenges. UNICEF’s innovation portfolio management is used as a case study in the fourth section. Some of the key recommendations include the need to clarify how its unique structures and resources are optimally placed along the innovation and scale up spectrum, the utilisation of portfolio management approach to make sure that its resources are well associated with its strategic priorities and comparative advantages and tolerable degrees of risk

Managing the whole landscape: historical, hybrid, and novel ecosystems

The reality confronting ecosystem managers today is one of heterogeneous, rapidly transforming landscapes, particularly in the areas more affected by urban and agricultural development. A landscape management framework that incorporates all systems, across the spectrum of degrees of alteration, provides a fuller set of options for how and when to intervene, uses limited resources more effectively, and increases the chances of achieving management goals. That many ecosystems have departed so substantially from their historical trajectory that they defy conventional restoration is not in dispute. Acknowledging novel ecosystems need not constitute a threat to existing policy and management approaches. Rather, the development of an integrated approach to management interventions can provide options that are in tune with the current reality of rapid ecosystem change