July 2010 doc.: IEEE 802.11-10/0xxxr0 Enhancing Collaboration between IEEE 802 and World Regulators on unlicensed spectrum regulations 8 March 2018 Authors: Name Company Phone email Lloyd Matabishi Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) +260961879737 lmatabishi@zicta.zm Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA Andrew Myles, Cisco

Motivation: It has been observed that IEEE 802.11 is mainly collaborating with FCC and Ofcom as the main world regulator as far as unlicensed spectrum regulations is concerned. It is assumed that main countries around the world are using FCC or Ofcom regulations and by collaboration only with these National Regulatory Agencies (NRA), all the world regulators are covered. Yes this could be true but not in all cases as many countries are modifying the FCC or Ofcom regulations and domesticating their own. Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

Advantage and Disadvantage of collaborating only with FCC and Ofcom Standards process is faster Disadvantage This might disadvantages other countries with different unlicensed regulations because some countries are rejecting some wireless devices thereby affecting manufacturers and consumers in the market. Therefore the comments/opinions of other world regulators are necessary in work of IEEE 802.11 standard process. Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

Proposal for IEEE 802 (IEEE-SA) to consider IEEE increases its regulatory collaboration scope to include many other regulators in the world on spectrum regulations affecting IEEE 802 Standards. How ? By collaborating with other National Regulatory Agencies (NRA) around the world including FCC and Ofcom . This can be achieved by: Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

How can it be done? Communicating to Continental Telecommunication bodies: APT, ATU, CEPT,RCC,CITEL,ASMG Regional Telecom Bodies. e.g in ATU, we have SADC,ECOWAS,EAC Influential National Regulator Agency (NRA) within a regional Telecom bodies: e.g ICASA (South Africa) in SADC, NCC (Nigeria) from ECOWAS, CA (Kenya) from EAC IEEE 802 (IEEE SA) must set up an online policy and regulation news letter so that regulators and those interested parties can access can give timely feedback. IEEE must revise the database for membership professional categories to include Telecom Regulation among other such as academia, manufacturing etc for now Telecom regulations for falls under Government category Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

Advantage and Disadvantage of this method all regulators are involved in the standard process This method can also serves to promote other new IEEE 802 standards around the world because equipment and devices using IEEE 802 standards are all over. Disadvantage This might take time to get feedback . However, IEEE can set time in which to consider responses and thereafter it can go ahead to approves the standard. Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

Conclusion IEEE 802 (IEEE- SA ) collaborating only with FCC and Ofcom as the main world regulator is not enough because many countries have different spectrum regulations as compared to FCC and Ofcom and this can affect the adoption of IEEE standards around the world. It is recommended that IEEE 802 consider to increase its regulatory scope collaboration with other world regulators including the FCC and Ofcom. Its also recommended that IEEE 802 carry out annual survey on unlicensed spectrum bands for all countries around the world and create a database and this information will be used for reference purposes. Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

Thank You Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA