New Legislation Would Open Unused TV Channels for Wireless Broadband

[SOURCE: New America Foundation]
Last Friday, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced legislation directing the FCC to open unused TV channels in each local market—also known as “white spaces” -- for unlicensed wireless broadband access. A bipartisan foursome of Commerce Committee members—Senators George Allen (R-VA), John Sununu (R-NH), John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA)—introduced similar legislation. These tremendously valuable—and presently dormant—TV band frequencies represent the much-needed rocket fuel that rural and other under-served areas need for affordable broadband deployment. Vacant TV channels are perfectly suited for WiFi and other unlicensed wireless Internet technologies. Low-frequency TV band spectrum propagates farther and penetrates physical obstacles better than the crowded “junk band” currently used for WiFi networking. Access to TV spectrum will allow commercial ISPs, municipalities and non-profit community efforts to deploy wide-area wireless broadband networks quickly and at a low cost. In 2004, the FCC initiated a rulemaking (Docket 04-186) to open up these white spaces to wireless broadband devices, subject to strict rules to avoid interference with TV reception. The proceeding has stalled since the departure of Chairman Michael Powell. The newly introduced legislation would break this regulatory impasse. Here are New America’s most recent policy papers regarding the importance of opening up low-frequency spectrum in the TV band for unlicensed use: 1) Reclaiming the Vast Wasteland: The Economic Case ­ This Issue Brief, by New America's J.H. Snider, describes the tremendous economic benefits of unlicensed spectrum and how economic and technological forces are leading the world in a natural shift from high-power, licensed wireless networks to wide-area networks of low-frequency, low-power unlicensed devices. 2) Myth vs. Fact: Rhetoric and Reality of Progress in Allocating More Spectrum for Unlicensed Use ­ This Fact Sheet demonstrates just how little high-quality low-frequency spectrum is dedicated for unlicensed use, compared to the amount devoted to exclusive use by licensed wireless service providers. 3) Wireless Public Safety Data Networks Operating on Unlicensed Airwaves ­ This updated Policy Backgrounder describes how local governments—in Texas, Kansas, California and other states—are using unlicensed wireless broadband networks to improve public safety across the country.
For additional recent publications on this issue -- and related issues -- see www.spectrumpolicy.org.

Also see --

* Miracle of Miracles
http://quixote.blogs.com/telecompolicy/2006/02/miracle_of_mira.html

* New America Pushes Unlicensed Bills
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6310176?display=Breaking+News...
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