Market design for radio spectrum: new NSF program

Here's an   announcement that recently went out from the National Science Foundation:

"Dear Colleagues,

"I am writing to you today because of a just published NSF solicitation with the title “Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum (EARS)” [and a submission deadline of June 14, 2012]. The complete solicitation can be found here: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503480 .

"The synopsis reads:

“The National Science Foundation's Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) are coordinating efforts to identify bold new concepts with the potential to contribute to significant improvements in the efficiency of radio spectrum utilization, and in the ability for traditionally underserved Americans to benefit from current and future wireless-enabled goods and services. EARS seeks to fund innovative collaborative research that transcends the traditional boundaries of existing programs, such as research that spans disciplines covered by two or more of the participating NSF directorates.”

"A number of economists participated in an EARS Workshop here at the NSF in 2010. The final workshop-report can be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/nsf_ears_workshop_2010_final_report.pdf .

"It is my hope that you could spread the word among potentially interested social scientists who may want to submit an interdisciplinary proposal that has social science as its central component.

"According to the solicitation:

“The key research areas of interest to the EARS program include, but are not limited to, those that impact a wide range of technologies, applications, and users. Some broad examples and general topic areas include, but are not limited to:”

...

-       " Security of wireless signals and systems in the context of spectrum sharing.

-        ...

-      " Economic models for spectrum resource sharing. There exists a need for interdisciplinary research in the areas of market and non-market-based mechanisms for spectrum access and usage to efficiently organize the sharing of scarce spectrum resources. Examples of research themes include, but are not limited to, real-time auctions, market design, spectrum valuation, spectrum management for the home user and managing mixed-rights spectrum.

-        New and novel measurement-based spectrum management techniques, including agent-based systems, policy-based spectrum management, local and scalable spectrum management.”

"I would be thankful if you could forward information about the solicitation to other potentially interested researcher.

"Please feel free to send us any suggestions you may have to ensure that Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences will be prominently represented among the EARS proposal submissions."

Michael Reksulak, Ph.D.

Program Director, Economics

National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 995

Arlington, VA  22230

mreksula@nsf.gov