Regulating for carrier aggregation & getting spectrum management right for the longer term

This paper looks at regulation for enhanced forms of carrier aggregation. The first objective of the paper is to provide a vision for carrier aggregation that goes beyond LTE-Advanced. Carrier aggregation as currently defined is envisaged as the aggregation of blocks from spectrum resources which are statically assigned to a mobile network operator. In the enhanced vision dynamic assignments, shared assignments and assignments that involve a mix of licensed and unlicensed access modes are considered and a comprehensive view is developed. The second objective of the paper is to formulate a regulatory framework to support this. We evoke the language of rival and excludable goods to define that framework and propose an approach to regulation that uses a common license framework across all classes of spectrum good that is to be aggregated. We argue that regulating for this advanced form of carrier aggregation may provide a timely opportunity to build more general spectrum management practices that are truly future-proof. We also note that recommendations coming from the PCAST report on `Realizing the Full Potential of Government Held Spectrum´ sit very well with the vision described in this paper.