[opendtv] Reaction Mostly Positive To White Spaces Decision

  • From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:27:34 -0500

The FCC "opinion and order" is here:

http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db0924/FCC-10-174A1.pdf

My reaction is relief that the auto-sensing feature cannot be used to determine 
whether the frequency channel is free, for now, but not good that the only 
protections are for co-channel and adjacent channel frequency channels. The 
FCC's own tests showed other vulnerable channels, and then there's the IM3 
distortion products to contend with too.

And also, one of the "features" that real OTA users exploit often is the 
ability to go to an adjacent market's frequencies when there are problems in 
your own market. For example, when some DTV stations went to low power VHF and 
fell off the chart, there may have been UHF alternatives that still work. E.g., 
in the DC market, when ABC7 became difficult, Baltimore's ABC2 (actual Ch 38) 
stepped up to the plate and made their signal like a laser. Not in the sense 
that it's narrow, but in the sense that it became really solid. Even with my 
setup, entirely on the "wrong" side of the DC market from Baltimore, and with 
antenna indoors at ground level.

Now, all bets are off, thanks to people in positions of authority who forgot 
how to spell "OTA TV." But still, it could have been a lot worse.

Bert

-------------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/106930

Reaction Mostly Positive To White Spaces Decision
09.23.2010.

Reaction was swift Thursday to the news the FCC had taken a big step toward 
opening up the TV band to wireless broadband and other advanced services.

The FCC voted 5-0 on rules for that move, and staffers said those guidelines 
could be a model for looking at opening up other bands to more efficient use, 
which it plans to do.

Broadcasters, who have been concerned that the move could mean interference to 
its beautiful new DTV and HD signals, were noncommittal," NAB's overriding goal 
in this proceeding has been to ensure America's continued interference-free 
access to high quality news, entertainment and sports provided by free and 
local television stations," said National Association of Broadcasters spokesman 
Dennis Wharton. "We look forward to reviewing the details of today's ruling."

"As with most highly technical decisions, 'the devil is in the details,'" said 
David Donovan, president of the Association for Maximum Service Television, 
broadcasters spectrum lobby. "Those details must be explored fully."

The Media Access Project had no such reservations. "Today is a good day for 
innovators, and a bad one for fear mongerers," said MAP Associate Director Matt 
Wood. "Chairman Genachowski and the Commission stood up to pressure from the 
broadcast lobby and rejected its hyperbolic warnings that new smart radio 
technologies won't protect against interference."

In approving the item, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that interference 
issues have "bedeviled" the proceeding, but that "enough was enough" and that 
it was time to move forward.

Free Press agreed that it was time to get on with it. "Today's decision was a 
positive -- albeit long overdue -- step forward on white spaces," said Policy 
Counsel Chris Riley. "The Commission's order appears to leave plenty of room 
for devices to meaningfully and efficiently use spectrum, in both rural and 
urban areas. It preserves the real possibility that unlicensed use of this 
spectrum will lead to substantial consumer benefits, investment and economic 
growth through technological innovation."

The Wireless Innovation Alliance (Google, Dell and others), gave the decision a 
shout-out as well. "The Commission has advanced spectrum policy and smart 
radios and this decision will form the foundation for private investment and 
improve American competitiveness," the group said in a statement. "And this is 
just the beginning. We hope that the White Spaces Order is the first step in 
continuing and meaningful spectrum reform that makes markets work more 
dynamically and efficiently, enabled by a public policy that accommodates new 
technologies and approaches rather than ignores them."

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Me.), chair and ranking 
member, respectively, of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, praised the 
move, which was not surprising since they have been pushing for it. Kerry 
introduced a white spaces bill back in 2007.

"Releasing unused spectrum is a sure-fire way to promote innovation and provide 
low-cost internet to folks in Western Massachusetts and across the country," 
said Kerry in a joint statement. "While broadband is an indispensible resource 
to millions of Americans and businesses across the country," added Snowe, 
"nearly 14 million citizens are still unable to use it due to lack of access," 
said Sen. Snowe. "The 'white spaces' spectrum provides an opportunity to reach 
these Americans and further bridge the 'digital divide' that unfortunately 
continues to exist today."

The FCC decision set aside two channels for wireless microphones in each market 
that cannot be used by the unlicensed devices, plus there will be additional 
channels in most markets, the FCC said. That seemed to be sufficient assurance 
for one major microphone manufacturer.

"It's clear that the FCC carefully considered the needs of wireless microphone 
users while crafting this Order," said Sandy LaMantia, President of Shure Inc. 
"The reserved channels will provide a safe harbor in which musicians, small 
theaters, houses of worship, and businesses can operate their wireless 
microphone systems without interference from new TV Band Devices."

-- Broadcasting & Cable
 
 
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