Spectrum access allocation processes and systems are described in which multiple tiers of predetermined transmission powers are enforced, and where access is established by transmission at or below the lowest predetermined transmission power. The allocation processes include provisioning a wireless interface between a spectrum access system and a user equipment that is not registered with the spectrum access system. The wireless interface permits data transfer at or below a first predetermined power setting. A request to register the user equipment with the spectrum access system is transmitted to a spectrum access server. The spectrum access server receives a message from the spectrum access server indicating that the user equipment has been registered with the spectrum access system. The user equipment is controlled to transmit data at a second predetermined power setting that is greater than the first predetermined power setting.