A method for managing shared wireless communications in a wireless communication network is provided. The wireless communications network includes at least one cooperative device and at least one non-cooperative device. The method includes the steps of monitoring, by the at least one cooperative device, a selected channel of a shared spectrum of the wireless communication network, detecting, by the at least one cooperative device, a presence of a transmission from the non-cooperative device within a measurable vicinity of the cooperative device, and responding, by the at least one cooperative device, to the detected presence of the transmission from the non-cooperative device.