FCC votes to let low-power devices use empty TV channels after digital switchover

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <[email protected]>
Date: October 13, 2006 11:38:28 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <[email protected]>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] FCC votes to let low-power devices use empty  
TV channels after digital switchover
Reply-To: [email protected]

[Note:  This item comes from friend John Wilson in the UK.  DLH]

From: "john wilson" <[email protected]>
Date: October 13, 2006 5:00:13 AM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: FCC votes to let low-power devices use empty TV channels  
after digital switchov

Dewayne

fyi re fcc and unlicensed spectrum re digital broadcasting etc- big  
news! comments?


<http://www.openspectrum.info/news-oct06-014.html>

FCC votes to let low-power devices use empty TV channels after  
digital switchover

 From "FCC lets wireless sneak between TV airwaves," Reuters (via  
News.com], 12 October:

"The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to  
permit certain wireless devices to use vacant airwaves between active  
television channels as long as they do not cause interference.

"Companies such as computer chipmaker Intel have pushed the FCC to  
make those airwaves available for use without a license for services  
like high-speed wireless Internet. But broadcasters have worried  
about possible signal disruptions.

" 'Allowing low-power wireless devices to operate in the unused  
portions of the television bands could be an efficient and effective  
use of this unused spectrum,' FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said at the  
agency's monthly open meeting.

"The FCC agreed to permit the use of fixed, low-powered, wireless  
equipment on some unused channel frequencies and said it would  
conduct testing to assess interference and encouraged others to  
submit their findings.

"The FCC said it expected to have the laboratory test results on  
interference by July and would set final technical requirements for  
the devices by October 2007.

"The National Association of Broadcasters said it looked forward to  
working with the agency.

"Marketing of the devices would only be allowed when television  
broadcasters switch to airing their digital signals and return their  
old analog airwaves to the government in February 2009, the FCC said.

" 'I think it strikes the right balance by promoting the development  
of new technologies while ensuring that over-the-air television is  
not subject to harmful interference,' said FCC Commissioner Jonathan  
Adelstein.

"Signals from the airwaves at issue -- frequencies below 900  
megahertz -- can easily penetrate walls, trees and other  
obstructions, unlike the higher frequencies.

"Intel attorney Marjorie Dickman said the company welcomed the FCC's  
decision because it wanted additional airwaves available for other  
uses than television service. Intel 'commends Chairman Martin for  
moving forward with the proceeding and looks forward to continuing to  
work with the FCC to make additional airwaves available for fixed- 
wireless, high-speed, Internet services in rural areas and for  
personal, home and office networking purposes,' she said...

__________

Official FCC news release, 12 October 2006: "FCC Takes Steps to Allow  
New Low Power Devices on Vacant TV Channels"

"Separate Statement of Commissioner Michael J. Copps": "...Then there  
is the question of whether the white spaces should be used on a  
licensed or unlicensed basis. The Commission's assumption has always  
been unlicensed - indeed, the caption of our 2004 NPRM (and today's  
item) is Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands. I have long  
supported freeing up additional unlicensed spectrum. In many contexts  
- as with the enormously successful bands that support today's Wi-Fi  
networks - unlicensed uses most closely approach the ideal of the  
people's airwaves, to be used in direct service of the public  
interest. With our recent AWS auction and the upcoming 700 Mhz  
auction, we are opening up a huge swath of prime spectrum to licensed  
use - and it seems to me, on the present record, that the appropriate  
balance is to open up the TV white spaces to unlicensed use..."

"Statement of Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein": "...Wherever I  
travel, I hear the calls for more unlicensed spectrum from operators  
who need more capacity to drive broadband deployment deeper and  
farther into all corners of the country. In this item, we are rightly  
exploring the latest and most exciting cognitive radio and spectrum  
sensing technologies that are available to see how they can enable  
spectrum facilitation in the television bands. Of course,  
broadcasters have used the public spectrum for many years to serve  
rural and urban areas alike in providing news, civic information,  
education and entertainment. I fully support our request for comment  
on how best to ensure that harmful interference is not caused by the  
operation of unlicensed devices. The American people care a lot about  
the quality of their television reception. We will hear an earful  
from consumers if this is not done right. I am particularly pleased  
with our decision today to allow channels 14-20 and 2-4 to remain 'on  
the table' for further testing to determine their suitability for  
possible unlicensed services in the future... Finally, while the item  
does provide a balanced view of the benefits and challenges of  
unlicensed versus licensed operations in the white spaces bands, I  
want to specifically express my preference for use of this spectrum  
on an unlicensed basis. Unlicensed services, with their low barriers  
to entry, present such a great opportunity for the deployment of  
broadband offerings in communities across the country no matter their  
size or financial status. Considering the favorable propagation  
characteristics for wireless broadband services in the 700 MHz band  
and the important obligation to protect existing television  
operations from harmful interference, I believe that unlicensed  
operations present the best use of the spectrum for this country."

"Statement of Commissioner Robert M. McDowell": "I am excited about  
this item because it starts a chain of events that will lead to an  
explosion of entrepreneurial brilliance. I am also delighted that it  
provides tremendous opportunities for further unlicensed use of these  
slices of the spectrum..."