Legal framework for community networks in Latin America

Spectrum

Although most community networks are born using free spectrum, as they grow or incorporate other technologies they require access to licensed spectrum.

Traditional schemes are based on principles of maximum profitability through auctions whereby spectrum is assigned to whoever pays the most. These schemes imply that only a small part of the assigned spectrum is used, since the concessionaire concentrates on the areas that give him the highest profits and avoids covering those with low profitability, while the media that could cover the latter cannot use that spectrum because it is already assigned, thus generating an artificial shortage.

In this section we present regulatory alternatives and experiences as well as studies on these issues.

Trends:

ISOC has conducted a comprehensive study on innovations in spectrum management, addressing both technical aspects and licensing schemes. Consultation: Innovations in Spectrum Management.

Studies:

Some countries have made progress in regulating spectrum sharing. In Mexico, based on the analysis of these regulatory trends, we submitted to the Technical Committee on Radio Spectrum of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), a proposal detailing a framework for the regulation of shared spectrum and recommendations on its regulation. The proposal was discussed and approved by Group VI of this committee in 2020, a document that can be consulted below.

This project was carried out with the help of various programs and thanks to the support of the Internet Society, Ford Foundation, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica.