[opendtv] Re: --FCC OKs WiFi between TV channels
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 16:45:08 -0400
There's something weird about this concept.
One of the criteria for reducing the spectrum assigned to
broadcast TV, I thought, was that the tabboo rules in
place since NTSC, particularly wrt UHF, can now be
greatly reduced. And too, I thought, ATSC stations
can exist in adjacent channels with NTSC stations, so
even more so with other ATSC stations. That was even
supposed to be one of the advantages of having a 8-VSB,
with its low peak to average ratio.
So while this concept of allowing non-TV RF users to
pick up unused bands might be technically valid, it
should be also legally and technically possible for
broadcasters to install more OTA stations, and use
the spectrum they were assigned more completely?
The question then would be, what would existing OTA
broadcasters prefer? Non-TV squatters on their spectrum,
or more OTA competition?
Bert
> http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/may_17/index.htm
>
> FCC OKs WiFi between TV channels
>
> Beyond The Headlines, May 14 2004
>
> The vote begins a lengthy rulemaking process in which television
> broadcast stations will oppose the plan.
>
> Television broadcasting took a back seat to WiFi - the wireless
> computer networking technology - when the FCC last week
> approved new rules
> that allow computers to communicate in the spaces between broadcast
> channels.
>
> In an unanimous vote, FCC members endorsed a plan
> Thursday to tap
> unused television spectrum to bring high-speed Internet
> connections and
> other wireless technologies to more computer users,
> especially in rural areas.
>
> The vote begins a lengthy rulemaking process in which television
> broadcast stations will oppose the plan. Broadcasters contend
> it might cause
> interference, disrupting reception of terrestrial television signals.
>
> However, Ed Thomas, the FCC's chief engineer, said
> current technology
> can avoid interference problems. WiFi can sense when a
> frequency is being
> used and scan for another available pocket of spectrum. That
> technology,
> Thomas said, can be expanded to the television spectrum to avoid
> interference.
>
> Under the plan, wireless companies would be allowed
> access to the
> unused spectrum in local areas between channels five and 51,
> with a few
> exceptions. The frequencies available involve spectrum below
> 700MHz, Thomas
> said. These lower frequency bands allow signals to travel
> farther, easily
> penetrating walls, trees and other obstructions through which higher
> frequencies cannot pass.
>
> Wireless users would not have to obtain spectrum
> licenses, but could
> only operate in the unused bands in a way that causes no
> interference with
> licensed broadcasters, the FCC said.
>
> The FCC's action drew praise from consumer and industry groups.
>
> The FCC will take comments from the public over the
> next two and a
> half months. Final rules are expected in about six months to a year.
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