DSA 2011 - 2011 IEEE Workshop on Dynamic Spectrum Access: Collaboration Between the Technical, Regulatory and Business Communities (DSA)

Ongoing developments are facilitating realization of dynamic spectrum access (DSA) technology. Technical advances are leading to greater flexibility in the operation of radios and systems across a range of spectrum bands using dynamically configurable radio access technologies. Moreover, regulators worldwide are initiating regulatory proceedings related to DSA related technologies including cognitive radio systems. This is perhaps most evident in the USA FCC’s ruling on TV Whitespace of September last year, opening up vast swathes of high quality spectrum on a location-dependent basis for opportunistic access.

Regulatory development is essential to the realization of DSA technologies. Regulations are concerned with organizing the behaviors of systems/devices with broad constraints, for purposes such as to avoid inter-system/inter-band interference and excessive radiated power. Standards however are also required, allowing systems and devices made by different manufacturers and/or operated by different entities to collaborate, communicate, coexist, form networks, etc. There is a strong interaction between regulation and standardization. Standards must obey regulation and be aware of topical and upcoming regulatory developments in order for the standards to be developed in a timely manner and with optimal specification. Regulations on the other hand must be developed that are technically realistic and conducive to the development of standards and technologies, for the good of industry, the economy and society.

Given that the technology is now in place to for the creation and deployment of early visions of DSA, standards must follow to facilitate widespread adoption of DSA technologies. DSA is currently at a pivotal stage where standards will make a real difference to its commercial success or failure. Momentum in the development of DSA-related standards is already apparent, for example, in the publication and further work on the IEEE 1900 series standards, and in work on the IEEE 802.22 and IEEE 802.11af standards, among others. This momentum must be rapidly accelerated.

Given the urgency of DSA standards development, the IEEE DySPAN Standards Committee along with its sponsor, the IEEE ComSoc Standards Board, and in collaboration with the IEEE ComSoc Technical Committee on Cognitive Networks (TCCN), is hosting a workshop to discuss aspects of DSA and standards development in this field. This workshop will feature panel sessions including some of the most influential and high-profile minds in the area of DSA, on topics such as DSA standards, technology, regulatory policy, among others. The workshop theme is coordination and collaboration between the technical community including standards development organizations, the regulatory community and the DSA business development community. All are welcome to attend this event, especially individuals and companies with an interest in DSA and looking to participate in standardization of DSA-related technologies.