One Step Closer To Opening Up The White-Space Spectrum

from the filling-in-the-cracks dept

Tue, Mar 13th 2007 1:19pm — Carlo Longino

Technology often does a pretty decent job of making the most of scarce or finite resources. But one such resource -- wireless spectrum -- remains a problem not just because it's finite, but because the regulatory environment around it often can't keep up with technology. For instance, in the spectrum used by analog TV broadcasts, the FCC mandates that there be a buffer of unused spectrum around the frequencies licensed to broadcasters, so their signals don't interfere with each other. But as technology has improved, those buffers have become less important, and given the desirable properties of this spectrum, there has been a lot of talk about making this "white space" available as unlicensed spectrum. The FCC wants to make sure that doing so won't interfere with licensed broadcasts, and to that end, Microsoft, Google and some other tech companies have delivered an MS-made device for testing to the FCC, which they say shows that the white space can be utilized without creating any interference. The prototype will undergo a few months of tests, and a decision on opening the white spaces could be made as early as July. With the importance of wireless technology, and in turn, wireless spectrum, increasing by the minute, it's imperative that regulatory bodies like the FCC change their policies to account for ever-improving technology and to make as much of the finite resource of spectrum available as possible. And when that technology makes it possible to open up more unlicensed spectrum -- as white-space advocates propose -- that's even better.

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9 Comments

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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 13 Mar 2007 @ 1:30pm

It will all be "white space" soon
With the supposed discontinuation of analog tv broadcasts it would make sense that the spectrum should be used. If the FCC allows and companies are willing to test that spectrum for some future products it may reveal as soon as that spectrum is no longer used to send tv signals then why wait when there is money to be made.
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a, 13 Mar 2007 @ 1:37pm

I would imagine if it can be proved that you can use white space, the FCC will gladly sell it to the highest bidder.
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BillGod, 13 Mar 2007 @ 1:37pm

WOW
WOW I am just amazed that I am reading something about the FCC that actually has to do with WHY the FCC was created. Not fining people for saying boobs on the radio!
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Lazy Slacker, 13 Mar 2007 @ 1:48pm

Re: WOW
heh heh...he said "boobs" in the internet...heh heh, heh heh
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Republican Gun, 13 Mar 2007 @ 2:12pm

Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology
Devices and technology today easliy surpass regulations that were written decades ago. In the R/C community (remote control planes) buffers are important to keep planes from falling out of the sky. But now with sprectrum technology where a transmitter and reciever use all or any frequency for a half a millisecond to communicate, the buffer space is only needed for the old guys flying analog frequencies, just like the phone companies. No reason this tech can't be put into the television band spectrum. But then isn't analog technology going to be mothballed in 2009?
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Tomatoe Tomah-toe, 13 Mar 2007 @ 4:17pm

boobs are on the tv but boobs are IN the internet?

muy interesante...
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Michelle Readman, 13 Mar 2007 @ 4:22pm

The BBC have been covering the UK side of this for
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6378925.stm

In the UK, these buffer zones are already unlicenced, and have gained popular usage for radio microphone systems. However, with the sale of the analogue TV spectrum range approaching with the switch-over to digital TV, these unlincenced xones are at risk, threatening theatre productions.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Mar 2007 @ 5:16pm

Of course...
Carlos, what you said is absolutely right but we shouldn't expect immediate change, and that's actually a good thing. Remember that one of the reasons for government bodies like the FCC, FDA, etc is to carefully regulate the growth of new and emerging technologies relevent to their particular area. Although it may seem slow to those of use in the techno-space, sometimes it's not always a bad thing for government to take their time and carefully examine pros and cons of any regulatory change.

The best example I can thing of is the FDA. If they did more long term and comprehensive studies, maybe their wouldn't be so many ambulance chasing attorneys out there. On the other hand, I imagine there is a point where you have to stop doing the research and see how the implementation works.
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Gregory B. Daly, 5 Jun 2007 @ 1:17pm

White Spaces
I am a transmitter site expert. I have worked in every state for cellular, smr, fm, am, tv, lptv etc. The FCC uses several criteria for protecting existing RF operators. The first is simple spacing- in miles or meters, from the next use of the frequency and co-adjecent frequency and so on. The second is protectionist curves. The software module meses the level of desired and undesired signal signal which allows the engineer to draw a specific line in the sand if you will on where the dbu's reach maximum return for minimum interference. There are then brokered settlements. Here the lawyers cut a deal and you pay for the right to interfere up to a engineering specified amount.

There are anomolies. They occur and they are not always predictable. Even if they are, there is generally not databases available for say, a particular model of UVAC that emits a low level noise that interferes with say, low band cellular or one of the blocks in PCS.

The science is not complete here especially when you are dealing with highly localized interference issues.

There there is the power politics of the issue. In this instance, it is the NAB vs the updates such as microsoft and google and company.

Need a site expert.... there is a map i have not read...

gregory daly
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