[opendtv] FCC was reluctant to do more WSD tests for fear of causing interference

Wow, talk about irony.

"Broadcasters and TV viewers concerned about white space devices
interfering with TV reception will find Knapp's response ironic
considering what appears to be a rush by the FCC chairman and
commissioners to approve these devices: 'We acknowledge that this single
device could have been utilized in tests performed at multiple locations
to produce a larger data set, but sensitivities regarding the potential
for producing interference to the OTA reception of TV signals made us
reluctant to activate the transmitter beyond the confines of the
laboratory facility.'"

My conclusion being, the FCC staffers that conducted the testing and
wrote the report had no idea that the FCC Chairman would use the report
to push for approval of these devices.

Doug Lung says below:

"I hope the transmitter testing at multiple locations was scratched
because of concern for interference to viewers and not because of
concern for interference to WSD proponents' political agendas."

Either way, it doesn't look good.

If the extra testing was scatched because interference potential had
become obvious, then the decision to approve WSDs would be unsupported.

If the extra testing was scratched for political reasons, in the face of
clear evidence, then the FCC hierarchy must have been banking on the
cluelessness of those reading the report.

I'm not sure which scenario is worse.

Bert

----------------------------------------

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/68890

White Space: More Tests Could Have Caused TV, Cable Interference
by Doug Lung, 10.31.2008

As I reported last week, a careful reading of the TV White Space Phase
II Test Report shows the WSD transmitter caused interference to both
over-the-air and cable TV reception.

If the FCC had done more transmitter tests at multiple locations, the
results of the limited field-testing in the Report indicates there would
have been interference to over the air TV reception and, depending on
the transmitter location, cable TV reception.

While I applaud the FCC's desire to protect TV viewers from
interference, had the transmitter been tested outside the laboratory
facility and viewers complained of interference, it is unlikely the
commission would be moving as fast as it is on this proceeding. I hope
the transmitter testing at multiple locations was scratched because of
concern for interference to viewers and not because of concern for
interference to WSD proponents' political agendas.

Tuesday the FCC released the peer review panel's report on the FCC
Office of Engineering and Technology's testing of prototype TV white
space devices. Comments on the review are due today.

The panel that reviewed the testing consisted of FCC staff members and
as expected generally found the testing was appropriate, stating it
"believes the testing was well done and thorough." However, the panel
suggested that the tests could have included more laboratory testing for
multiple signals types and wondered if tests could have been performed
to investigate the potential causes of excessive false detections.

In a Memorandum on the Peer Review of Prototype TV White Space Phase II
Study, OET chief Julius Knapp responded to the panels comments regarding
additional transmitter tests.

Broadcasters and TV viewers concerned about white space devices
interfering with TV reception will find Knapp's response ironic
considering what appears to be a rush by the FCC chairman and
commissioners to approve these devices: "We acknowledge that this single
device could have been utilized in tests performed at multiple locations
to produce a larger data set, but sensitivities regarding the potential
for producing interference to the OTA reception of TV signals made us
reluctant to activate the transmitter beyond the confines of the
laboratory facility."

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology home page has links to the
Peer Review, the Memorandums, and the test reports.
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: