An Overview of the U.S. and Japanese Approaches to Cognitive Radio and SDR

SUMMARY " Cognitive radio " and " software-defined radio " (SDR) are today an important consideration in major spectrum debates in the United States. The U.S. drafted its first SDR rules in 2001, and since has continued efforts to resolve potential regulatory concerns and facilitate the benefits of the technology. At the same time, Japan has had a very rich experience in the lab with SDR, with significant achievements on many engineering topics. However, the regulatory state of SDR in Japan has not kept pace with the United States. Likewise cognitive radio, while a topic of inquiry, betrays a different focus. The paper explores why the paths for these technologies have diverged in the U.S. and Japan. 1. Cognitive Radio and the SDR General Background Introduction Cognitive radio and SDR are complex topics with evolving definitions and applications. Nevertheless, these technologies are real with current applications and legal status in the regulatory law * *. These come at a crucial time as exploding demand for spectrum makes the regulators job of improving access to spectrum increasingly difficult. The technical aspects of the technology are the topic of many excellent papers and conferences. The focus here is on examining the regulatory course in U.S. and Japan. While the regulatory focus of SDR has been on how to certify devices under the relevant spectrum regulations the device operates under, Cognitive Radio represents the set of technical and regulatory considerations introduced by the possibility for a new highly dynamic, efficient, and flexible spectrum environment enabled by adaptive radios using advanced " cognitive " processing techniques. Where SDR's regulatory focus is primarily on preserving the integrity of devices to prevent interference, the Cognitive Radio focus is on improving spectrum management process' allocation, service, and licensing rules. Cognitive Radio is the hard look at how spectrum is used and regulated and what improvements are possible using adaptive, aware, and learning * The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Communications Commission or the United States Government; The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation; or any Japanese Ministry or the Government of Japan. a) " We neither wish to have our processes inadvertently be a barrier to the development and deployment of these technologies nor wish to permit the widespread deployment of radios easily susceptible of being misused to cause harmful interference to others. " [1]. The …