Getting information needed for effective sharing of spectrum...

Getting information needed for effective sharing of spectrum between government and commercial users “will be more difficult in some cases then others,” said the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee’s Spectrum Management via Databases Working Group in an interim report posted by NTIA. The report is to be discussed by CSMAC Friday. The working group found that the information that will be needed to protect federal agencies is “likely substantially less” than that required to protect secondary users. “Protecting Federal users via a database system likely means we only need receive (Rx) information not information on transit (Tx) characteristics,” the report said (http://1.usa.gov/1bzW1j6). “Rx information is often less sensitive then Tx information.” The report concluded that all sharing scenarios are not the same. “There is no one size fits all solution for what information needs to be shared,” it said. “In fact for some systems, it will be difficult to share at all due to nature of systems. ... We should focus on the most solvable scenarios first.” The key question the working group is considering is: “How can sensitive and government classified operations be included and protected using a database-driven sharing approach, particularly one that strives toward real-time responses?” the report said. “The group agreed to address this question in general to the extent possible but also look at this in context specifically of the 3.5 GHz band.” CSMAC will also get an update from its Bi-Directional Sharing Working Group. The group needs “more specific NTIA instruction (on time period, size of area, demographics, spectrum required, and nature of use) to recommend best possible options,” said a document posted by NTIA (http://1.usa.gov/18FJxpR). “Bi-directional sharing is likely to increase in visibility as the commercial auctions are completed, the opportunities will require a comprehensive ruleset based on best practices."