Spectrum Allocation

---

The world's governments have historically made spectrum scarce and expensive by splitting it up and restricting its usage. "Spectrum allocation" refers to the governmental function of apportioning bands to services such as radio, TV and WLANs. Although various governments have declared their control over all spectrum and set up laws and rules to govern the use of such spectrum, legally speaking, no one can really "own" spectrum.

International spectrum allocation is accomplished by making an entry in the aforementioned official International Table of Frequency Allocations that is maintained by the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU). As the principal international institution for achieving agreement and cooperation among nations on the use of telecommunications, the ITU frequently changes this table through conferences and negotiations.

Proposals to modify the International Table of Frequency Allocations are based largely on the requirements and desires of individual countries to operate particular radio services in particular bands. Needs differ among countries. Decisions are driven in many cases by such arguments as economic and national importance of one service vis-a-vis another. However, allocation decisions are also dictated by technical considerations, in particular, those allocations involving the sharing of frequencies between two or more services. Many times the arguments are based on complex technical factors such as acceptable interference levels and noise, power flux densities, antenna patterns, and so forth. Nonetheless, countries are sovereign with regard to the use of the radio spectrum (and regulation thereof) within national borders and have no obligation to adopt or follow the International Table of Frequency Allocations within their borders.

The mechanisms of the ITU are designed to achieve the maximum utilization of the electromagnetic spectrum by the widest range of users, and to avoid a situation where one user is accommodated at the expense of another. Adherence to ITU agreements is voluntary and cannot be enforced by higher authority. There are also no sanctions in place to compel an ITU member to abide by ITU rules, although membership in ITU entails a treaty obligation to conform to the collective decision of its members.

Domestic spectrum allocation is accomplished by making an entry into an official national Table of Allocations, which is maintained by each individual country's designated regulatory agency. Domestic allocations generally conform to, or at least do not conflict with, the International Table of Frequency Allocations. In fact, the ITU's allocations can strongly impact domestic spectrum decisions. In some instances, however, multinational manufacturing interests can virtually dictate domestic allocations.

Note 

A license or assignment issued by a governmental regulatory body is a renewable contract between a specific government and a licensee. A license serves to authorize the licensed party (licensee) to use frequencies and bands within a specific radio service, usually in a particular geographic location, although some licenses convey nationwide privileges.

---