Emerging issues in white space regulation

The secondary use of vacant television channels (TV white spaces) and the reallocation of the digital dividend to provide wireless broadband services are in the final stages of implementation in some countries. Originally seen as a once in a generation opportunity to better allocate UHF spectrum, further digital dividends are now underway as regulators and industry strive to meet exponential increases in demand for mobile data services. Concurrent developments suggest that TV white spaces may be rapidly exploited by global networks with billions of supported devices. The potential for sub-optimal outcomes is identified if the prospect of further digital dividends is not taken into account as technical and regulatory arrangements are put in place to allow productive use of TV white spaces. The importance of considering the potential interaction between further digital dividends and the use of TV white spaces is discussed and technical and regulatory approaches to support optimal outcomes are identified.

► Regulators encourage deployment of efficient white space devices on UHF band.
► Regulators reallocate UHF band from broadcasting toward telecommunications.
► Widespread deployment of white space devices may thwart UHF reallocation.
► Regulators worldwide need to find optimal regulatory models of coexistence.
► This may include reforming and extending use of spectrum property rights regimes.