SDR, cognitive radio, and ITU-R

I’ve been procrastinating far too long on starting this blog, so I thought I would go ahead and start putting fingers to keyboard.  The issue of the day is how to get industry behind global regulatory reform to promote more efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Groups such as the SDR Forum and IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee 41 (SCC41) (Dynamic Spectrum Access Networks) are doing what they can, but to date, they still lack a focused commercial approach.   

In early February, Working Party 5A of the International Telecommunication Union – Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) will be holding a seminar on software defined radio (SDR).  It will also be examining questions on SDR and cognitive radio (CR).   The SDR Forum has submitted a contribution on the CR questions, but will not have any one present to discuss its document.  IEEE SCC41 has submitted an informational presentation for the seminar.  Someone will be present to deliver the SCC41 presentation, but SCC41 has not identified someone to represent its interests beyond this initial meeting.

Why is industry “feet on the ground” support for ITU-R activities related to SDR/CR seemingly so weak?   Is it because industry believes it can proceed without ITU-R action, perhaps focusing on the reform of national rules where necessary?  Is it because firms would rather pursue their agenda through means other than industry and professional associations?  Is it because these industry groups are still young and do not yet have the resources or sophistication to provide significant support?

I seek comments on what it will take to jump start a global reform agenda in this space.