# Decentralized Spectrum Access System: Vision, Challenges, and a Blockchain Solution

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.05612 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.05612/

## Key facts

- Cited by 4 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 10 Dec 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Preference Poisoning Attacks on Reward Model Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01920/) (2024)
- [State-of-the-Art Approaches to Enhancing Privacy Preservation of Machine Learning Datasets: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.16847/) (2024)
- [Reinforcement Learning-Based Approaches for Enhancing Security and Resilience in Smart Control: A Survey on Attack and Defense Methods](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.15617/) (2024)
- [Enabling Regulatory Multi-Agent Collaboration: Architecture, Challenges, and Solutions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.09215/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Spectrum access system (SAS) is widely considered the de facto solution to coordinating dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) and protecting incumbent users. The current SAS paradigm prescribed by the FCC for the CBRS band and standardized by the WInnForum follows a centralized service model in that a spectrum user subscribes to a SAS server for spectrum allocation service. This model, however, neither tolerates SAS server failures (crash or Byzantine) nor resists dishonest SAS administrators, leading to serious concerns on SAS system reliability and trustworthiness. This is especially concerning for the evolving DSS landscape where an increasing number of SAS service providers and heterogeneous user requirements are coming up. To address these challenges, we propose a novel blockchain-based decentralized SAS architecture called BD-SAS that provides SAS services securely and efficiently, without relying on the trust of each individual SAS server for the overall system trustworthiness. In BD-SAS, a global blockchain (G-Chain) is used for spectrum regulatory compliance while smart contract-enabled local blockchains (L-Chains) are instantiated in individual spectrum zones for automating spectrum access assignment per user request. We hope our vision of a decentralized SAS, the BD-SAS architecture, and discussion on future challenges can open up a new direction towards reliable spectrum management in a decentralized manner.