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Google, tech allies form white space lobbying group
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Google announced Wednesday that it was joining forces with other technology companies to lobby the FCC with recommendations for what the technical specifications should be in a white spaces technology database.
The Internet search giant, along with Comsearch, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Motorola and Neustar announced plans to launch the White Spaces Database Group. The database will provide devices operating in the white spaces--the unused slivers of spectrum in the 700 MHz band between spectrum used by broadcast TV stations--the ability to sense via geolocation whether there are signals in the area that would cause interference because of the device. Microsoft and Motorola were two key allies in Google's initial lobbying effort to get the FCC to approve the use of white space devices.
"In the coming weeks and months, members of the group will be offering to the Commission their perspectives, and some specific recommendations, about the technical requirements we would like to see adopted for the database," Richard Whitt, Google's Washington telecom and media counsel, wrote in a blog post. "Many of these specifications ultimately will be heavily technical; put simply, we'll advocate for data formats and protocols that are open and non-proprietary, with database administration that is also open and non-exclusive."
White space spectrum had been the focus of intense debate for months. Google and its allies had advocated using those slices of spectrum to bring broadband wireless access to rural areas of the United States and to increase the use of wireless devices and applications in the spectrum in general.
When the FCC voted to approve white spaces in November, it heralded the decision as a big step forward for wireless technology in the United States. "One of the lessons of history I have learned since coming to the commission is the power of technology to turn scarcity into abundance," FCC Commissioner (and now acting chair) Michael Copps said at the FCC's Nov. 4 meeting.
The FCC voted to approve the use of both unlicensed fixed band devices and portable personal devices that have both geolocation capabilities and the ability to access an FCC database of TV signals and locations of things such as stadiums, churches and entertainment venues where wireless microphones were being used and scan for possible interference issues. These database and geolocation capabilities would, in theory, prevent interference with broadcast TV stations and wireless microphones and ensure compliance with FCC rules.
The FCC did not approve devices that used spectrum sensing technology only, but did say that these devices could be approved at a later date if they would undergo additional certifications, including proof-of-performance tests.
For more:
- see this article
- see this Google blog post
- see this release
Related Articles:
FCC approves white spaces, creates interference restrictions
Microsoft intensifies white-space lobbying efforts
Lawmakers jump into fray over white-space
Motorola, NAB press cases before FCC white-space vote
FCC set to vote on white-space issue Nov. 4
Google's Page, allies express support for white space
Comments
Posted by Elmer | February 5, 2009 - 2:30pm
This kind of journalism is just getting way too common these days. I wish these guys would actually read a little more and/or understand the subject matter.
I know part of the problem is these are non technical people writing these articles. I will address my comments to hopefully anyone technical who is reading this far to see what I am ranting about. ...
The DTV Migration will certainly affect the likes of Qualcomm, AT&T, Verizon or anyone else who won spectrum in the recent 700MHz auctions. It will not however affect the White Spaces people very much if any since this Spectrum affected by the DTV Migration isn't subject to operation by "White Spaces" devices since they are intended for the operation between the existing lower spectrum TV Broadcast Stations which already have users on them today.
The only effect the DTV Migration will have is that the lower spectrum today has a mandated Analog Station that must be operated until the mandated migration to Digital. The duplicated Digital Carrier today is being carried in the 700MHz Spectrum that will be handed over to the aforementioned users after the mandated migration date at which time the Analog Transmitter will be shutdown , and the Digital Transmitter will be reconfigured to broadcast on the lower spectrum (not the 700 MHz that is to be used at some future date by the likes of AT&T, and Verizon for 4G Wireless Data).
I suggest the author actually try and understand spectrum since he is writing about it as White Spaces refers to spectrum outside of that affected by the Digital TV Migration that has now been delayed until June 12th.
I like many others would have liked this matter to have been better managed by the previous administration, but with everything else they screwed up this just seems like one more thing to throw on the pile, and it really is just partisanship to try and condemn the current administration for trying to actually be concerned about the many consumers in the USA who have yet to receive their Set Top Box converters they may or may not need in all reality. I would guess many people are just in a panic since this has been so poorly explained to them they feel they must get the receivers or be left out in the cold. I suggest the author might have mentioned this at least in passing that the delay is necessary in order to at least give the impression that the average American Citizen is still important to the government, because after the spate of bad choices at the FCC during the previous administration the average citizen might just be feeling a little unimportant. I won't go into all the details here, but just check into the lawsuits from the Amateur Radio Relay League or ARL (also known as HAMS) over the previous attempt to throw something out there to solve the Broadband failures. I am talking about Broadband Over Power Line of BPL which was a massive failure as well of the past FCC's attempt to create a viable alternative to the Incumbent's.
I suggest the author talk about that as well, but alas I doubt such in depth coverage will come from here.
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