Piloting Risk-Informed Interference Assessment Using Waivers
14 Pages Posted: 30 Dec 2014 Last revised: 19 Mar 2015
Date Written: March 13, 2015
Abstract
This working paper investigates whether there are Federal Communications Commission actions that would be well suited to serve as pilots of risk-informed interference assessment (“RIIA”). It investigates the record of petitions for spectrum-related waivers, experimental licenses and special temporary authority over the last five years.
It concludes that waivers — rulings by the FCC that excuse compliance, in whole or part, with its rules following a petition by a licensee — seem to be the well suited for RIIA pilots because they are narrower than larger-scale rulemakings, reducing the risk of unexpected adverse impacts. We expect that waivers will accommodate RIIA with minimal disruption to the existing process. Site-specific waivers may be best suited for initial trials because they involve a smaller number variables than nationwide or device waivers.
Keywords: Federal Communications Commission, FCC, risk-informed, interference, spectrum, wireless, Silicon Flatirons
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