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SuperSmart radios, including those based on Wi-Fi, WiMax, Bluetooth, ZigBee, many cellular voice and digital services, broadcast satellite, and others, are of interest to government agencies here and overseas. Broad-based use of cognitive radios (which are software-defined, wireless, sufficiently intelligent to analyze the radio environment, and able to choose the best spectral band and protocol needed to reach whatever base station is the object of communication at the lowest possible power consumption) could result in more efficient use of radio spectrum. Estimates of how much more traffic the airwaves could carry vary, but some say under 14 percent of radio spectrum is busy at any particular time. Among spectrum that is not fully used are the upper ranges of the TV bands (channels 14 to 83), which is called ultrahigh frequency (UHF). The technology is described, including pluses and minuses related to frequency available to two radios attempting to communicate. For cognitive radio to come about with its benefits, regulations will have to allow it, and at present governments give broadcasters and carriers exclusive use of the frequencies allocate to them. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regards cognitive radio as an enabler of spectrum sharing and has issued two requests for industry comment in 2003 and 2004.
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Information Sources, Inc.
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