1. July 2010
doc.: IEEE /0xxxr0
Enhancing Collaboration between IEEE 802 and World Regulators on unlicensed spectrum regulations
8 March 2018
Authors:
Name
Company
Phone
Lloyd Matabishi
Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)
Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA
Andrew Myles, Cisco

2. Motivation:
It has been observed that IEEE 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

3. 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 standard process.
Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Thank You
Lloyd Matabishi, ZICTA