[JPL] F.C.C. to Open Radio Spectrum

[Jazz Promo Services]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/technology/internet/05spectrum.html?hp


November 5, 2008

F.C.C. to Open Radio Spectrum

By MATT RICHTEL
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.

³It¹s fair to say few other engineering analyses at the F.C.C. have been as
lengthy and open,² 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.

³Some have called this Wi-Fi on steroids,² Mr. Copps said. ³I hope they¹re
correct.²

The measure was championed by Kevin J. Martin, the F.C.C.¹s 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.

³When the commission puts expediency ahead of an open process, it creates
unnecessary resentment from parties that believe they were not given a fair
hearing,² 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.

³We are deeply disappointed with the F.C.C. decision that could silence
Broadway productions and those at other venues around the country,² 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.¹s decision.

³The F.C.C. has taken a significant step to usher in a new era of technology
allowing for major investments in innovative wireless broadband,² Greg
Brown, president and co-chief executive of Motorola, said in a statement.

In a blog post, Larry Page, Google¹s 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.

³We think that this spectrum will help put better and faster Internet
connections in the hands of the public,² he wrote.


Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us
Site Map