Dr. Jackson has worked on policy projects ranging from sovereign state spectrum management to detailed radio interference issues. Comprehensive experience with state and national regulators enables him to assist infrastructure providers and regulators with impact analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and technical feasibility studies. Dr. Jackson has testified more than 10 times before Congress on issues related to spectrum and telecommunications policy.
Recent Projects
Universal Service: Analyzed the economics of satellite direct-to-home broadband access and showed that satellite was the lowest-cost alternative for a far larger proportion of households than the FCC had concluded in the National Broadband Plan. This paper can be accessed here: Satellite Service and the Broadband Gap.
Net Neutrality: Dr. Jackson performed a study regarding the benefits of priority routing and network management in modern IP networks and explained how regulations that prohibited such technologies would disadvantage consumers. Dr. Jackson's study was an attachment to the Verizon filing in the net neutrality proceeding before the FCC. This paper can be accessed here: Efficiency and Net Neutrality.
White Space: It has been proposed that unlicensed devices such as baby monitors and cordless telephones be allowed to operate in those geographic and spectrum regions where no TV Channel 4 is available, which are known as the TV white space. It is Dr. Jackson's view, as well as that of his sponsor QUALCOMM, that using spectrum for unlicensed devices rather than licensed devices would be misguided at best. As part of his work for QUALCOMM on this project, Dr. Jackson performed and contributed to a technical analysis of the policy implications of TV white space devices, spoke at various public events, some of which were pro bono, and coauthored several FCC filings, including Unlicensed Use of the TV Whitespace.
Internet Access: Dr. Jackson co-authored a study with Dr. Robert Crandall that considered the impacts of adoption of high-speed Internet access. They calculated the value of the increased benefits to consumers that would flow from more rapid adoption. This study was used by advocacy groups arguing for policies that would speed the deployment and adoption of high-speed Internet access.
FM Reception: Dr. Jackson coauthored a study with Professor Raymond Pickholtz that examined testing results regarding the performance of FM audio receivers. They were able to show that despite the vast apparent differences in the reported results, the actual underlying measurements of receiver performance were quite similar. The explanation for the differences in conclusions was shown to be the criteria the parties used to interpret their measurements.