< Previous Page Return to Title Page Next Page >

Why Nonexclusive Licensing?

  •  Avoids exclusion of later entrants, who bring competition to the marketplace and may be innovative. (Auctions of exclusively licensed spectrum happen once and lock latecomers out forever)

  • Promotes equipment economies of scale by maximizing ease of deployment

  • Avoids Part 15 "Tragedy of the commons" by excluding consumer devices (which already have ample spectrum)

  • Cognitive radios can minimize interference and coordinate spectrum use more efficiently than humans, make exclusive licensing unnecessary by putting users "above the knee" of Shannon-Hartley curve

  • Cognitive radios can enforce requirements to share spectrum fairly and not to interfere willfully -- with no effort or knowledge required of the service provider or end user

  • Cognitive radios can "tattle" on unlicensed users and abusers... or simply refuse to communicate with them
  • No need to dictate details of radio technology beyond the spectrum etiquette