THE ECONOMICS, TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY OF UNLICENSED SPECTRUM

 

 

A research conference organized by

Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law, Michigan State University

Wireless Information Network Laboratory (WINLAB), Rutgers University

Eric Friedman, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Cornell University

 

May 16-17, 2005, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

 

Objectives | Format | Topics | Schedule and Papers | Audio-visual equipment

 Location and directions | Travel and Accommodations | Contact information | Acknowledgements

 

Objectives

The main goal of the conference is to explore the frontiers of economic and technological knowledge on unlicensed spectrum and to draw lessons for management and policy.  We would like to achieve this through trans-disciplinary dialogue between experts in economics, engineering, management, law, and policy.  With this conference, we hope to elevate the quality of the theoretical and policy debates on spectrum policy.

Format

Participants will convene for one and a half days in a retreat-like setting on the campus of Michigan State University.  The conference will feature a mix of sessions dedicated to research paper presentations and sessions devoted to a general discussion of current policy issues, how research might be made more directly relevant to these issues, and the next steps in a forward-looking research agenda.  To facilitate discussion and interaction, we have limited the number of participants.

Topics

Although the conference will address a broad range of issues related to unlicensed spectrum, we will emphasize the following topics:

 

Schedule and Papers (all sessions are in the Heritage Room)

Monday, May 16, 2005

8:00-9:00

Breakfast (Centennial Room)

9:00-10:00

Session 1: Introduction of themes and participants, background, goals of conference

Johannes M. Bauer/Steven S. Wildman, MSU

Roy Yates, Rutgers University

Eric Friedman, Cornell University

10:00-10:15

Refreshment break

10:15-12:30

Session 2: Economics and Policy (I)

Chair: Eric Friedman, Cornell University

The question of spectrum: technology, management and regime change (presentation)

      Gerald R. Faulhaber, University of Pennsylvania

Economic case for dedicated unlicensed spectrum below 3GHz (presentation)

      William H. Lehr, MIT

Comparing welfare for spectrum property and commons governance regimes (presentation)

      Carol Ting, Steven S. Wildman, Johannes M. Bauer, MSU

Respondents: Evan Kwerel, FCC; Jon Peha, Carnegie-Mellon University (related paper)

12:30-1:30

Lunch (Galaxy Room)

1:30-3:45

Session 3: Economics and Technology (I)

Chair: Chris Rose, Rutgers University

Analyzing cognitive radio networks with game theory

      James Neel, Jeffrey H. Reed, Rekha Menon, Allen MacKenzie, Virginia Tech

Some fundamental limits on cognitive radios and their implications

      Anant Sahai, University of California, Berkeley

Cognitive algorithms and architectures for open access to spectrum

      Narayan Mandayam, Rutgers University

DIMSUMnet: new directions in coordinated dynamic spectrum access (project website | presentation)

      Milind M. Buddhikot, Lucent Technologies

Respondents: Kevin Kahn, Intel

3:45-4:15

Refreshment break

4:15-5:45

Session 4: Current and future policy issues, coordinating research and policy (moderated discussion)

     Chair: Johannes M. Bauer, Michigan State University 

Introductory remarks by

Lauren Van Wazer, FCC

Evan Kwerel, FCC

J. H. Snider, New America Foundation

7:00-9:00

Dinner at Beggar's Banquet, 218 Abbott Road, East Lansing, phone 517-351-4540

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

7:30-8:30

Breakfast (Centennial Room)

8:30-10:30

Session 5: Economics and Technology (II)

Chair: Roy Yates, Rutgers University

How much information can wireless networks carry, and how should they do so?

      P. R. Kumar, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Evolving strategies for contentious but efficient coexistence in unlicensed band wireless systems

      Chris Rose, Rutgers University

Power allocation rules for multiple access channels: manners vs. etiquette (related paper)

      Eric Friedman, Cornell University

Respondents: Lauren Van Wazer, FCC; Jon Peha, Carnegie-Mellon University

10:30-11:00

Break

11:00-12:30

Session 6: Economics, Technology and Policy

Chair: Steven S. Wildman. Michigan State University

The return of the broadcast wars

      Christian Sandvig, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

An economic theory of property rights to radio spectrum

      Thomas W. Hazlett, Manhattan Institute and University of Pennsylvania

Respondents: Francois Bar, University of Southern California; Gerald R. Faulhaber, University of Pennsylvania; J. H. Snider, New America Foundation

12:30-1:30

Lunch (Galaxy Room)

1:30-2:30

Session 7: Next steps in the research and policy agenda

 

   Co-chairs: Johannes M. Bauer, Eric Friedman, Steven S. Wildman, Roy Yates

 

    NSF initiatives and programs

        Joseph B. Evans, NSF

 

 

2:30-3:00

Synthesis, concluding remarks, and adjournment

 

 

Audio-visual equipment

Standard audio-visual equipment includes computer + projector, overhead projector, whiteboard, and flip chart.

 

Location and directions

The conference will be held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 55 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, Phone 517-432-4000.  Directions can be found at http://www.hfs.msu.edu/kellogg/about/location.html.

 

Travel and Accommodations

Nearby airports are Lansing, MI (10 miles, 15 minute/$18 taxi ride), Grand Rapids, MI (60 miles); and Detroit, MI (90 miles). 

 

Contact Information

For last-minute questions please contact either Johannes M. Bauer [bauerj@msu.edu, 517-432-8003 (o) or 517-944-4154 (m)], Steven S. Wildman [swildman@msu.edu, 517-432-8004], or Joy Mulvaney, Administrative Assistant [mulvaney@msu.edu, 517-432-8001] at the Quello Center.

 

Acknowledgements

The conference is part of a three-year research effort by the three organizers.  Funding by the National Science Foundation, grant CCR 020581, is gratefully acknowledged.

 

 

 

Johannes M. Bauer, May 14, 2005.