Ofcom and London School of Economics’ Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation are pleased to invite you to a workshop on the application of foothold auctions to spectrum allocation.

Auctions have proven to be an efficient tool for spectrum managers in ensuring economic efficiency. As developments in auction theory and auction design evolve over time, regulators and academics benefit from engaging with these ideas from theoretical and practical perspectives. We are therefore delighted to welcome our keynote speaker, Professor Paul Milgrom, to discuss novel auction mechanisms. Professor Milgrom is a Nobel-prize winning economist, academic, auction designer, and founder and chair of Auctionomics.

Ofcom’s Chief Economist, Dr Luisa Affuso will open the session, and economists Katie Curry, Chris Doyle and John Ivory will provide the policy context and set out the practical challenges for foothold auctions. Geoffrey Myers, a veteran of spectrum auctions and Visiting Professor of Regulation at London School of Economics, will discuss the pros and cons of foothold auctions.

Martin Cave, economist, Chair of Ofgem (the UK’s energy regulator), and board member of the Centre on Regulation in Europe, will chair a panel discussion.

Schedule

4.00pm - Opening and welcome by Dr Luisa Affuso, Ofcom Chief Economist

4.05pm - Keynote: depreciating licenses and other spectrum auction issues, Prof. Paul Milgrom (Stanford University and Auctionomics)

4.35pm - Foothold auctions: the practical challenges, Katie Curry, Chris Doyle, John Ivory (Ofcom)

5.05pm - Foothold auctions: pros and cons, Geoffrey Myers, Visiting Professor of Regulation at London School of Economics

5.25pm – 6.00pm Discussion and close by Martin Cave (Ofgem)

This free online event will take place on Monday, 4 October from 8.00am PDT, 3.00pm GMT/UTC; 4.00pm; BST; 5.00pm CEST. After booking a place you will receive a link to the event. Only registered attendees will be able to attend. You do not need a Microsoft Teams account to attend the event.

This event may be recorded for internal use and will not be available for external participants.

You can join the conversation on social media using #OfcomSpectrum

If you have any further questions, please contact us by email at ofcomevents@ofcom.org.uk

Kind regards,

Ofcom Economics Group

Registrations are closed

Foothold auctions: a new concept in spectrum licencing