It was back in 2008 that the FCC began paving the way for internet devices to use ‘white space’ spectrum in gaps between the UHF TV bands, but it was always going to take around two years for technical developments to catch up, so the FCC has been slow to complete its rulemaking, especially since virtually every idea it came up with was disputed by broadcasters. Now, the FCC is close to finalizing the rules for the license exempt use of white space spectrum, in a way that would expand broadband options, but avoid interference for TV or wireless microphones.
According to The Wall Street Journal, top FCC advisers have held a series of meetings with interested parties through the summer, to discuss how to free up the airwaves for wireless services. Although the unused spectrum scattered around the TV band is considered attractive because of its low frequencies, which support long range and indoor penetration, opposition has been fierce – not just from companies already using the bands, but from mobile operators, concerned about new competition.
Supporters like Google, Microsoft, Motorola and Dell, however, see this as the ‘new Wi-Fi’, capable of extending affordable wireless services, plus new service providers and business models. They have been seeking to demonstrate that interference can be avoided with a combination of cognitive radios within devices, and databases that catalog existing users.
The ongoing FCC talks could address the technical issues about interference and present solutions as early as this month, at the regulator’s September meeting. This could then pave the way for commercial products to be developed. The discussions have involved some heavyweight players – during a recent trip to Austin, Texas, FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker discussed the issue with Dell CEO Michael Dell, said the WSJ, while FCC chairman Julius Genachowski visited Microsoft headquarters and examined products that use white space spectrum.
Opening up the white spaces is part of the FCC’s National Broadband Report presented to Congress earlier this year, in which the agency pledged to free up 500MHz of new spectrum within 10 years, 60% of it by 2015. A few tests in white spaces have already been held, notably in Wilmington, North Carolina.