[opendtv] news: F.C.C. to Open Radio Spectrum
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 05:20:14 -0500
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/technology/internet/05spectrum.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
F.C.C. to Open Radio Spectrum
By MATT RICHTEL
Published: November 4, 2008
Over the objections of television broadcasters and other groups,
federal regulators set aside a disputed slice of radio spectrum for
public use on Tuesday, hoping it would lead to low-cost, high-speed
Internet access and new wireless devices.
The Federal Communications Commission voted 5 to 0 to approve the new
use for the unlicensed frequencies, known as white spaces.
A coalition of powerful groups, including broadcasters, Broadway
theater producers and sports franchises, hoped to derail or delay the
decision. They have argued that their own transmissions - whether
from television signals or from wireless microphones used in live
music performances - could face interference from new devices that
use the white spaces.
But F.C.C. commissioners said in a public meeting on Tuesday that
they were confident that enough testing had been done to assure them
that interference was not a major risk.
"It's fair to say few other engineering analyses at the F.C.C. have
been as lengthy and open," said Michael J. Copps, a commissioner.
Echoing the views of other commissioners, he added that the measure
could lead to development of a new generation of devices that use the
spectrum to provide Internet access.
Commissioners said such access could be more reliable than Wi-Fi,
which also uses unlicensed frequencies but does not reach as far.
That view has been heralded by technology companies, like Google,
Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, which will benefit from the spread of
Internet access.
"Some have called this Wi-Fi on steroids," Mr. Copps said. "I hope
they're correct."
The measure was championed by Kevin J. Martin, the F.C.C.'s chairman.
Some commissioners voted for the measure but said they agreed with
its opponents that the issue was pushed too quickly and that more
time could have been taken for discussion or testing.
"When the commission puts expediency ahead of an open process, it
creates unnecessary resentment from parties that believe they were
not given a fair hearing," said Jonathan S. Adelstein, a
commissioner. He said he nevertheless voted for the measure because
he felt further delay was unlikely to change the outcome.
In addition to the broadcasters, the decision was opposed by the
Broadway theater industry, which argued that new devices using the
white spaces could interfere with transmissions from wireless
microphones and among crew members.
A coalition of Broadway producers and performers joined the
broadcasters in arguing that the F.C.C. should conduct more tests.
"We are deeply disappointed with the F.C.C. decision that could
silence Broadway productions and those at other venues around the
country," said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the
Broadway League, a trade group representing the New York theater
industry.
The discussion over how to handle white spaces emerged in light of an
impending change in the way television signals were delivered.
Starting in February, TV stations will be required to switch to
digital from analog delivery.
Since 2004, the F.C.C. has been studying whether the frequencies
between television channels - the white spaces - could be used by
other devices, particularly because digital signals are less prone to
interference. The F.C.C. performed two sets of tests that showed some
potential for disruption on frequencies used by broadcasters, live
theater performances or others who rely on the same spectrum.
But F.C.C. commissioners said they had confidence that interference
could be mitigated through tight regulation of new devices. For
devices to be automatically certified by the commission, they must
include technology that determines whether they are in a location
where the channels are protected for use by incumbent broadcasters;
if they are, they must find some other channel to transmit on.
Mr. Martin said he expected that devices using the spectrum could be
on the market within a year to 18 months. These might include
portable communications gadgets as well as in-home electronics that,
for instance, could carry a video signal from a computer or recording
device to a television.
Technology companies applauded the F.C.C.'s decision.
"The F.C.C. has taken a significant step to usher in a new era of
technology allowing for major investments in innovative wireless
broadband," Greg Brown, president and co-chief executive of Motorola,
said in a statement.
In a blog post, Larry Page, Google's co-founder and president of
products, said he believed engineers and entrepreneurs would be quick
to build devices to take advantage of the white spaces.
"We think that this spectrum will help put better and faster Internet
connections in the hands of the public," he wrote.
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