What's next for white space broadband? Setting up databases

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday gave the green light to the use of channels in the 700MHz band for fixed and portable unlicensed broadband, or "white space," devices (WSDs). The agency says that its rules will be effective on March 19. Although this decision was originally made in November 2008, it has just been published in the Federal Register. "Any step forward in this process is progress," Wireless Innovation Alliance spokesperson Jake Ward said. "It has always been our position that the Commission's process for testing, evaluation, and rulemaking is a necessary and worthwhile, and we are pleased that we have moved one step closer to a white space enabled world." But the circumspect quality of this comment is appropriate. As already noted, the Federal Register announcement says the decision doesn't apply until mid-March. But even then, not all of it. According to the Register document, the White House's Office of Management and Budget must still certify that various sections of the FCC's decision are in compliance with that law. What sections are those? The sections having to do with the TV bands database, the databases' administration fees, and the database administrator.