New FCC white space rules: inside the Satanic details

If the devil really is in the details, let's look inside the Federal Communications Commission's white space to find, well, I don't know who it could be, maybe Satan!

The FCC feels confident that its new allocation of two more channels where unlicensed devices will not be allowed to operate will compensate for a change in spectrum sensing requirements. In fact, the FCC even declined to go with microphone maker requests that wireless mics get more spectrum and be included in the white space database system. But in occasional instances where "major events" are being staged and all channels reserved for wireless mics have been used, the event coordinators may petition the FCC for wireless mic database inclusion. And the agency says it's open to considering spectrum sensing devices on a "proof-of-performance" standard, and will accept applications for white space "sensing only" devices when vendors are "ready to do so." The FCC divides white space devices into two categories—"Mode I" and "Mode II" gadgets. Mode II and fixed location devices communicate with the central database command and include lists of available channels. Mode I devices float more freely. To compensate for the elimination of sensing, devices in Mode I mode now must receive regular signals from Mode II gadgets that provide an updated list of good-to-go channels, or they must contact the Mode II channel themselves at least once per minute. Meanwhile the Mode II and fixed devices must check their own locations at the same rate, except if in "sleep mode"—that is, the machines aren't transmitting data, but they aren't powered down either.