[opendtv] Re: WatchTV asks FCC for experimental license to test spectrum-efficient wireless transmission technology
- From: Mark Aitken <maitken@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:17:44 -0500 (EST)
To watch portions of the presentation, log on to:
http://www.spectrumevolution.org/presentation-to-the-fcc
SpectrumEvolution.org Demonstrates OFDM-Based Broadcast/Broadband
SpectrumEvolution.org , the newly formed advocacy group, successfully performed
a live demonstration of new OFDM-based hybrid mobile broadcast/broadband
technology for the FCC on November 17 th . SpectrumEvolution.org’s mission is
to promote fair, plausible and intelligent broadcast spectrum policy, with a
focus on how spectrum policy issues raised in the National Broadband Plan will
impact all broadcasters.
CMMB America assisted in the demonstration, including flying personnel in from
China. CMMB stands for Converged Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting. Tens of
millions of CMMB receivers are already deployed in other countries.
The FCC was represented by Rebecca Hanson, Senior Advisor/Special Counsel in
the Media Bureau; Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and
Technology (OET) and five OET staff members. In addition to the various members
of the FCC, we were pleased to have Mark Aitken, Director, Advanced Technology
for Sinclair Broadcast Group and Scott Goodwin , Associate General Counsel,
Legal and Regulatory Affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB). SpectrumEvolution.org , presented and demonstrated some dynamic ideas
that we believe, call into question many of the FCC’s assumptions relating to
the need to destroy incumbent broadcast licensees to meet the objective of
wider accessibility to wireless broadband.
The technical demonstration of CMMB technology included 7-video content
streams, being fed to 12 different CMMB receivers, ranging from
state-of-the-art cellular telephones to dedicated handheld devices. The devices
in the demonstration were from leading manufacturers including: Samsung,
Motorola, HTC, LG and Sony-Ericsson, demonstrating that CMMB technology is well
established within the worldwide manufacturing community. The technology
performed flawlessly, and we believe those in attendance were appropriately
impressed with the maturity of the CMMB device ecosystem.
SpectrumEvolution.org also discussed how these devices can be utilized for the
reception of broadcast internet content, caching of most commonly viewed mobile
internet information, and methods for inclusion of an internet return path to
provide interactivity using a myriad of existing, out-of-band services.
100_1935.JPG100_1931.JPG
SpectrumEvolution.org believes that this demonstration proves without a doubt
that technologies are readily available to enable broadcasters to participate
fully in advancing the National Broadband Plan. All broadcasters including
Class A, LPTV and TV Translator stations, should be allowed to choose amongst
the best technologies available to provide broadcast/broadband services to the
American public.
Greg Herman, president of SpectrumEvolution.org said, “There is no doubt that
the technology exists for all broadcasters to move forward in provisioning
state-of-the-art broadcast/broadband services, and the CMMB technology we
demonstrated to the FCC is certainly one of those viable options. However, even
though there is no question that these exciting new technologies exist, and
should be made readily available to the American public, we have significant
concern that some of our public servants within the FCC would rather see
broadcasting wither and die so they may more easily redistribute broadcasting
spectrum to wireless companies through auctions.” Mr. Herman went on to say,
“We believe it is essential to challenge the FCC concerning their policies in
this area and make certain they remember that they work for the American public
and not simply as facilitators for allowing the wireless industry to assume
control of not only conventional point-to-point wireless but also the
point-to-multipoint distribution that broadcasters have faithfully provided for
nearly a century!”
Beginning early in 2011, SpectrumEvolution.org will make certain that Congress
is fully aware of the pending calamity that is about to be forced upon many of
the broadcasters, including small business owners, women and minorities across
the country, who serve audiences neglected by big stations. It is critical that
Congress fully understand that the destruction of the broadcasting industry, in
favor of greater consolidation of spectrum into the hands of wireless
operators, is poor public policy at best and will serve only to destroy the
rich history and diversity of voices unique to the U.S. broadcasting Industry.
Amy Brown
469-644-4683 ph
Regards,
Mark A. Aitken
Director, Advanced Technology
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
===================================
Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
===================================
Business TEL: (410) 568-1535
Business MOBILE: (443) 677-4425
Business FAX: (410) 568-1580
E-mail: maitken@xxxxxxxxxx
www.sbgi.net
===================================
"The significant problems we face cannot
be solved at the same level of thinking
we were at when we created them."
- Albert Einstein
"Black holes are where God divided by zero."
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- Dwight D. Eisenhower
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Birkmaier" <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "OpenDTV Mail List" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 9:25:29 AM
Subject: [opendtv] WatchTV asks FCC for experimental license to test
spectrum-efficient wireless transmission technology
http://broadcastengineering.com/news/watchtv-asks-fcc-for-experimental-license-to-test-spectrum-efficient-wireless-transmission-technology/
WatchTV asks FCC for experimental license to test spectrum-efficient
wireless transmission technology
Jan 14, 2011 8:00 AM, By Michael Grotticelli
WatchTV, a Portland, OR, company promoting a technology designed to
converge broadcasting and broadband, has asked FCC Chairman Julius
Genachowski to reverse FCC policy regarding the mandated use of
"today's outdated ATSC digital TV technical standard" and allow his
company to field-test the technology under an experimental license.
Gregory J. Herman, president and CEO of WatchTV and Spectrum
Evolution, a group promoting the use of extra spectrum from DTV
broadcasters for mobile broadband applications, sent a letter
requesting a meeting with the chairman, saying he has been blocked in
previous efforts by the commission's Media Bureau staff.
Herman has filed a formal application for an experimental license to
test and demonstrate the OFDMA technology in Portland. Although the
application has not been affirmatively denied, Herman said his
"routine request" for an experimental broadcast license is
languishing at the FCC.
"WatchTV and SpectrumEvolution.Org are working with a technology that
is already deployed in other countries and was created by the same
University of Washington professor who was the original developer of
the OFDMA technology that is now the core of LTE and Mobile WiMAX,"
Herman wrote.
Herman said he had already demonstrated the technology to the Office
of Employment and Training on Nov. 19, 2010, and it showed promise in
sending wireless signals to portable handsets that Herman provided at
the time. He stated that his prototypes countered previous FCC staff
suggestions that there is no market-ready approach to combining
broadcasting and broadband in the same bandwidth.
"If the technology works as well as anticipated, deployment can start
within a year, with widespread penetration, including rural areas,
faster than any other technology," he wrote.
"The efficient use of broadcast spectrum will be enhanced far beyond
today's outdated ATSC standard," Herman continued. "Importantly,
because the system is dynamically flexible as to how spectrum
capacity is allocated among various services, it will allow the free
marketplace, rather than government regulators, to determine how much
spectrum capacity is used for which kinds of services at what points
in time. And the United States will open rather than shut the door to
innovation already deployed in nations with which we compete."
Herman suggested one reason for refusing his application is the FCC
doesn't want his technology to be proven to work.
"There can be no reason to deny us the ability to do the necessary
field test work, but for fear that we might succeed and/or a
perception that the government will not profit as much from our
technology as it might from incentive auctions that would shut down
broadcast services," he said. "Success should never be feared."
According to the Spectrum Evolution website, Herman is a broadcast
television company executive, operating both Class A and low-power
television facilities with locations throughout Oregon and Central
Washington. WatchTV was the first television broadcaster to provide
foreign language programming in the state of Oregon. He is also a
past president of the Community Broadcasters Association.
Herman is seeking a meeting during Jan. 24-28, when he will travel to
Washington for meetings with other government officials and
congressional offices. Thus far the FCC has offered no response to
his letter.
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