FCC OK's Some Wireless Devices in Broadcast Band

FCC OKs SOME WIRELESS DEVICES IN BROADCAST BAND
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has voted unanimously to allow fixed wireless services to operate in the so-called "White Spaces" between broadcast channels, but is has not concluded whether they should be licensed or unlicensed and has made no ruling on mobile devices in that same spectrum. In essentially beginning the process of allowing some types of wireless devices into the broadcast band, the FCC took a cautious approach. It put out for comment a number of issues, like whether to allow mobile devices and whether or not any of the devices should be unlicensed. But it did rule that no mobile devices will be allowed on channels 14-20, which are used for public safety in some areas, or on channel 37, which is used for radio astronomy. The difference between licensed and unlicensed is crucial to broadcasters, since they fear the latter are too difficult to monitor. If such a device does wind up interfering with DTV signals, it will be a tough egg to un-break, they argue. While putting channels 2-4 in play, on which set-tops operate, the FCC has asked for more comment before deciding what, if any, devices should be allowed to operate there. That is also good news for broadcasters, as is the FCC's emphasis on extensive interference testing. While broadcasters were undoubtedly happy the FCC took a conservative approach, particularly in not approving unlicensed operation without soliciting more comments, some would have preferred the presumptive ruling that unlicensed was the way to go.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6380391.html?display=Breaking+News

* TV Spectrum to Be Opened for Other Uses
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc13oct13,1,4385436.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-business
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* U.S. FCC allows limited use of vacant TV airwaves
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-10-13T004901Z_01_N12220585_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-AIRWAVES-FCC.xm...

* FCC Takes Steps to Allow New Low Power Devices on Vacant TV Channels
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A1.doc

* Martin Statement: "Now that Congress has established a "hard date" for the DTV transition, however, the Commission should resolve outstanding technical issues so that low power devices designed to operate on unused TV frequencies may be placed on the market with the completion of the DTV transition."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A2.doc

* Copps Statement: "[U]nlicensed uses most closely approach the ideal of the people's airwaves, to be used in direct service of the public interest."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A3.doc

* Adelstein Statement: "[T]he potential use of this spectrum for fixed wireless broadband services in rural areas is too great to take the spectrum completely out of consideration at this time, particularly as channels 14-20 are not in use across most of the country. So I want to thank my colleagues for agreeing to changes to the item that allow us to keep this spectrum "in play" pending the results of future tests."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A4.doc

* Tate Statement:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A5.doc

* McDowell Statement: "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."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267867A6.doc

* MAP Applauds Commissioners on "White Spaces" Order
“Today's FCC action is another step forward in freeing more public spectrum for productive public use. Commissioner Adelstein has once again proven himself a champion for rural broadband and affordable wireless everywhere through his heroic efforts to keep as much spectrum as possible "on the table" until testing is complete. As Commissioner Copps observed, these are the "people's airwaves, to be used in direct service of the public interest."
http://www.mediaaccess.org/press/whitespaces.pdf