[opendtv] EU and US want more TV spectrum for wireless

Yes, perhaps, but US TV has given up that 800 MHz spectrum eons ago, in the 
1980s. And the 700 MHz spectrum too.

Man, what a circus act this has become. All the hand-wringing.

Bert

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http://www.rethink-wireless.com/article.asp?article_id=2101

EU and US want more TV spectrum for wireless
By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 4 November, 2009

This week has seen further developments on both sides of the Atlantic in the 
repurposing of broadcast TV spectrum. The European Union has recently moved 
towards making its position, that these bands should be used entirely for 
mobile broadband, official, and information commissioner Viviane Reding wants 
to speed up the process again. And in the US, the FCC is proposing schemes to 
address the spectrum shortage by freeing up TV spectrum for broadband.

Reding is encouraging all EU member states to up the pace of digital TV 
roll-out and complete the transition to digital TV by the start of 2012, to 
free up the spectrum for wireless broadband roll-outs. The EU sees the digital 
dividend band, in 790 MHz to 862MHz, as a key method of meeting its target of 
offering broadband coverage to all citizens by 2013.

However, the TV industry is concerned about potential interference with set-top 
box or cable modem services. Laboratory tests carried out for trade body Cable 
Europe claim interference from LTE could be enough to knock out TV signals. 
This prompted Reding to call for broadcasters to vacate the band as soon as 
possible.

"I urge national authorities to use the digital dividend in a pro-competitive 
way to open up the market for new operators and new services, maximizing the 
impact on the economy," she said. "Only this will ensure the digital dividend 
is used to bring wireless broadband to parts of the EU where high speed 
internet cannot be provided efficiently by other technologies."

In the US, the FCC is trying to formulate its own universal national broadband 
plan, and considering taking spectrum from broadcasters and re-auctioning it 
for mobile services. "The record is very clear that we're facing a looming 
spectrum gap," Blair Levin, who is heading up the FCC's broadband program, told 
The Wall Street Journal. He said the FCC is "looking at everything, including 
broadcasting spectrum".

The National Association of Broadcasters will oppose such plans, and has 
already said new spectrum must be freed up in ways that will not restrict 
consumers' access to digital TV. Broadcasters moved in June from analog to 
digital TV from analog to free up 700MHz spectrum for wireless use.
 
 
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