Kevin Martin In Favor Of Freeing Up White Space TV Spectrum

from the good-news dept

Thu, Oct 16th 2008 12:43am — Mike Masnick

While there's been a ton of propaganda from TV broadcasters (and, oddly, wireless microphone vendors) concerning requests from tech companies to make use of the so-called "white space" spectrum that surrounds the spectrum the TV broadcasters use, it appears that FCC boss Kevin Martin is now prepared to support freeing the spectrum for other uses. This isn't all that surprising, given that the FCC has been pushing to free up such spectrum for years, but it is very good news. While there were some early test device failures, the problems were with the devices themselves, not in creating any interference, as the critics claim. This totally unused spectrum could open up all sorts of interesting new wireless technologies that could be tremendously useful in many different ways.

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Filed Under: fcc, kevin martin, spectrum, white space

7 Comments

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Lyle, 16 Oct 2008 @ 1:51am

Oddly?
The wireless microphone vender's concerns are not odd in the least. Their products make use of the space between local TV stations to broadcast audio short distances. The digital TV transition will mean that effective 2.19.09 there products will be illegal to sell or operate. More information about this (including an informative video for DTV/Whitespace novices) at Shure.com or http://www.feb2009.com/.

Characterizing a concern over change in policy that would make their entire business illegal as odd is in and of its self odd.
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- Anonymous Coward, 16 Oct 2008 @ 6:52am
  
  Re: Oddly?
  Hell, WIRED headphones even can be affected by this.
  
  I purchased the surround sound headset from Razer and overall its a great set of headphones.
  
  Except when my cell phone connects to the cell network (if I receive a phone call or text message or when it checks in to check if I have...) it causes interference on the headset.
  
  Don't have the issue with the cheap ones that came with my Zune. Doesn't happen with my speakers. Just my nice headset...
  
  I guess when I'm on call I could call it a feature for when I'm on call, except I've started using my headphones only for Ventrilo and let my games blast out my speakers.
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  - Rick, 16 Oct 2008 @ 6:44pm
    
    Re: Re: Oddly?
    Oddly - sounds like you have a GSM headphone. It isn't
    uncommon at all for GSM to interfere with other electronic
    devices - this is a byproduct of the relatively slow rate
    at which voice/data is transmitted from the handset. One concern everyone has with 700 whitespace is intereference
    into TV sets - TV sets are known for having relatively
    poor shielding, thus the concern about any transmitter
    in 700 mhz getting through the weak shielding and causing the picture to freeze or stop playing (in the case of digital TV).
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Oct 2008 @ 2:40am

Have you seen "W"?
How the hell did Kevin Martin Get his Job? I mean, really... Michael Powell was the son of Colin Powell... You know, the Guy who led us into Desert Storm.

If this bastard doesn't know anything about RF engineering, telecommunications or the like, and we just chalk his entire experience and placement within the FCC as being some pawn that had something to do with any Florida Recount, I will be ANGRY.
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- Getyourfactsstraight, 16 Oct 2008 @ 7:46am
  
  Re: Have you seen
  Actually Colin Powell didnt lead us into Desert Storm...it was General Norman Schwarzkopf. So now theres no need to get angry hahaha
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- Pdmonney, 17 Oct 2008 @ 6:11am
  
  Re: Have you seen "W"?
  You don't have to know about RF engineering to be head of the FCC. I seriously doubt the CEO of Lockeed could put together a satalite by himself. The head of the FCC has to do what every other organizations do, surround themselves with other people who does know the business
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Don, 20 Oct 2008 @ 10:58am

Radio Spectrum
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Personally, I think that any spectrum that is not now devoted to general purpose internet protocol is wasted. I guess I'm a radical who thinks that the "broadcast" paradigm is inherently broken. Any spectrum which is not a two way street is just broken. Now we'll see a protracted battle between the old media and the new. We need to free all spectrum and do the 21st century equivalent of the Eisenhower interstate highway program. The government doesn't need to pay for it. The government just needs to get out of the way.
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