COLLOQUIUM
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of South Carolina

IIT's Spectrum Observatory: Lessons Learned from Four Years of
Monitoring the Spectrum Occupancy in the City of Chicago

Dennis A. Roberson

Department of Computer Science
Illinois Institute of Technology

Date: October 7, 2011
Time: 1430-1530
Place: Swearingen 2A27

Abstract

Spectrum is a scarce natural resource that we depend on to an ever
increasing degree for our social interactions, our protection and
emergency services at the national and global level and the efficient
conduct of business both here and around the world.  This resource is
extremely valuable commanding prices in the U.S. in the range of
$250,000,000 per MHz for prime spectrum property.  Even the President
has become directly involved in an effort to move 500 MHz of spectrum
to commercial broadband providers (usually cell phone service
providers) in an attempt to spur economic growth, create jobs and to
help to resolve the Federal Budget deficit.  Given its value and
importance, surprisingly little is really known about the current
usage and the trends in the spectrum occupancy in the various
geographies in the U.S. and around the world.  To help resolve this
issue, Illinois Institute of Technology through its Wireless Network &
Communications Research Center (WiNCom) developed a Spectrum
Observatory to monitor the spectrum occupancy in the "Loop," the
business center of the City of Chicago.  The lecture will describe the
implementation and operation of the Observatory and describe the
various findings over the past four years of observation.  The talk
will also discuss the potential to use this kind of installation to
assist in the implementation of next generation wireless
communications systems based on dynamic spectrum access network
techniques and Cognitive Radio based systems.

Dennis A. Roberson is Vice Provost for Corporate Relations and
Strategic Initiatives, and a Research Professor in Computer Science at
Illinois Institute of Technology.  In this capacity, he has
responsibility for IIT's relationships with its various corporate
partners and serves as the focus for the implementation of IIT's
Strategic Plan.  He also supports the development of new research
centers, and the successful initiation and growth of IIT related
technology-based business ventures.  Professor Roberson is a
co-founder of IIT's Wireless Network and Communications Research
Center (WiNCom) and an educator in the wireless networking arena. He
is also the President of Roberson and Associates, LLC, a consulting
firm primarily focused on wireless technology and technology
management. He serves on the governing or advisory boards of several
technology-based companies and on the FCC's Technology Advisory
Council and the U.S. Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee.
Prior to IIT, he was EVP and CTO at Motorola. Professor Roberson has
an extensive corporate career including major business and technology
responsibilities at IBM, DEC (now part of HP), AT&T, and NCR. He is
involved with a wide variety of Technology, Educational and Youth
organizations and serves as a frequent speaker at universities,
companies, technical workshops, and conferences around the globe.
Professor Roberson has BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and in
Physics from Washington State University and a MSEE degree from
Stanford.