National Association Of Broadcasters

Sound Off - Industry players debate white space decision

Mike Dolan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:30:17 -0500

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the FCC approved the use of TV white space spectrum for unlicensed wireless devices. Here are some of the reactions to the Federal Communications Commission decision:

"The Alliance and our members commend the OET and the FCC for their leadership and expertise all along the way, even in the face of the ever-constant rhetoric and misinformation. They deserve a tremendous amount of respect and credit for remaining focused on the science and the data amid a difficult political atmosphere. OET's report will now enable the Commission to set standards and specifications for the development and use of white space technology. But most importantly, it has paved the way for the next generation of wireless technologies, broadband deployment, and information sharing that will benefit every American in the coming years."--Jake Ward, Wireless Innovation Alliance spokesman

"While we appreciate the FCC's attempt to address significant issues raised by broadcasters and others, every American who values interference-free TV should be concerned by today's Commission vote. By moving the 'white space' vote forward, the Commission appears to have bypassed meaningful public or peer review in a proceeding of grave importance to the future of television." --National Association of Broadcasters Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton
"This is a clear victory for Internet users and anyone who wants good wireless communications... "I've always thought that there are a lot of really incredible things that engineers and entrepreneurs can do with this spectrum. We will soon have "WiFi on steroids," since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today's WiFi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost. And it is wonderful that the FCC has adopted the same successful unlicensed model used for WiFi, which has resulted in a projected 1 billion Wi-Fi chips being produced this year. Now that the FCC has set the rules, I'm sure that we'll see similar growth in products to take advantage of this spectrum. "--Larry Page, Co-Founder and President of Products of Google
"The FCC has taken a significant step to usher in a new era of technology allowing for major investments in innovative wireless broadband, education, and government/enterprise applications to spur economic development. Motorola looks forward to developing products to market that will help consumers realize the full potential of the TVWS including the opportunity to make broadband access, as well as other communication services, available to millions of underserved Americans."-- Motorola Co-CEO and President Greg Brown
"The bipartisan decision to open white spaces puts consumers first, marking a change in Internet policy we can all believe in. Over the past eight years, the United States has fallen behind many other world leaders in providing fast, affordable Internet access. Nearly half of American homes are still not connected to broadband. The phone and cable companies that dominate the broadband market promise more of the same slow speeds and high prices that put us in this mess. Opening white spaces adds much-needed competition and innovation--sparking economic growth at a time when jobs and investment are on a downward spiral. Thankfully, the mudslinging is over. Now it's time to start a new era of innovation that will help close the digital divide and finally provide Internet for everyone."--Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press

FCC commissioner optimistic white-space will pass

Phil Goldstein — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:10:27 -0400

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said he was "optimistic" the commission would approve the use of white-space spectrum for unlicensed wireless applications and devices when it meets Nov. 4. "I'm very optimistic. I think this could be a 5-to-0 vote," he said. "The order itself is a very tight box. Each device still has to be certified by the FCC."

The FCC has been receiving a slew of pleas from both sides on the issue ahead of the vote. Companies such as Google, Microsoft and Motorola have argued that opening up the white-space spectrum--the narrow bands of unused spectrum that sits between airwaves currently used by TV broadcasters--will lead to increased broadband access for rural parts of the United States, among other potential benefits. The National Association of Broadcasters, along with an increasing cohort of musicians argue that doing so will lead to too much interference with broadcast TV stations and possibly with wireless microphones.

For more:
-see this article

Related Articles:
Microsoft intensifies white-space lobbying efforts
Dolly Parton, musicians croon: delay white-space vote
Lawmakers jump into fray over white-space
Motorola, NAB press cases before FCC white-space vote

Pastor Joel Osteen joins white spaces debate

Sue Marek — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:23:44 -0400

Joel Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church in Texas, who's weekly service attracts 40,000 people and a television audience of more than 7 million, has joined the white space debate and notified the FCC that he is concerned about the possibility that unlicensed white space devices may interfere with wireless systems, particularly wireless microphones.

In a letter to the FCC, Osteen said that his church services could not operate without wireless microphone technology, which allows pastors and musicians to interact more closely with members of the congregation. Osteen asks that the FCC protect wireless microphones by not authorizing unlicensed wireless devices that may cause interference.

The FCC is conducting tests of prototype devices that access unused television airwaves, called "white spaces," to see if they will interfere with television broadcasts. Companies such as Google and Microsoft want to use this spectrum to develop new mobile communications devices. However, the initiative has raised the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters, which argues that "white space" devices may interfere with existing television broadcasts.

For more:
- see a copy of Osteen's letter to the FCC

Related articles:
Professional sports leagues concerned about white space spectrum
Companies step up push to license white-space spectrum

Google launches white spaces campaign

Sue Marek — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:29:47 -0400

Google is hoping public pressure will help it in its campaign to get the FCC to make white space spectrum available for unlicensed wireless Internet devices. The company today launched a campaign called "Free the Airwaves" that will target rural and Native American communities across the country that have inconsistent or no Internet connections.

Google has been lobbying to get this spectrum, which sits between the airwaves currently licensed to TV broadcasters, to be used to develop new mobile communications devices. However, the initiative has raised the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters, which argues that white-space devices may interfere with existing television broadcasts.

The FCC just completed field-testing of various white-space devices and is expected to report its findings on those tests. Soon after, the commission is expected to take up the contentious issue of whether the spectrum can be used for unlicensed devices or whether they pose too much of an interference threat to television broadcasters and wireless microphone users.

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)

Related articles:
Pressure mounting in white space debate
FCC expected to release white-space findings next month

Pressure mounting in white space debate

Sue Marek — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:00:43 -0400

Lobbyists are getting Capitol Hill involved in the white space debate. Earlier this week eight members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin asking the FCC to adopt rules governing white space spectrum within the next 90 days so that the spectrum can be used to establish low-cost broadband connectivity in rural areas and across the country.

And just last week Representatives Anna Eshoo and Edward Markey wrote a similar letter to Martin, warning him that wireless carriers are "seeking unnecessary and unprecedented testing delays to prevent new innovative competitors from entering the market."

The FCC is wrapping up tests of prototype devices that access unused television airwaves, called "white spaces," to see if they will interfere with television broadcasts. Companies such as Google and Microsoft want to use this spectrum to develop new mobile communications devices. However, the initiative has raised the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters, which argues that "white space" devices may interfere with existing television broadcasts.

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)
- see this NY Times article

Related articles:
Motorola exec: FCC white space testing going well
White space debate won't be resolved with field testing

White space debate won't be resolved with field testing

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:05:49 -0400

If you thought the debate over white space spectrum was going to be settled through the field tests the FCC is conducting, think again. As field testing wraps up, we once again don't know who to believe--the companies who submitted prototypes and declared them a success or the opponents who said the prototypes failed in the field.

The FCC is conducting the tests to see whether the devices that access unused television airwaves, called "white spaces," will interfere with television broadcasts. Companies such as Google and Microsoft want to use this spectrum to develop new mobile communications devices. However, the initiative has raised the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters, which argues that "white space" devices may interfere with existing television broadcasts, as well as users of wireless microphones.

Last week, Steve Sharkey, Motorola's senior director, regulatory and spectrum policy, told FierceWireless that the FCC has just finished most of the outdoor white space device testing and that Motorola's white space device, which used geolocation technology, did very well in the tests. Philips has said the same thing, indicating that its devices correctly identified occupied and unoccupied channels via sensing technology, although not necessarily the same ones each time, according to TVTechnology.com.

All of the tests have been open to the public, and apparently open to interpretation. Verizon Communications Executive Vice President Tom Tauke told Broadcasting & Cable that so far nobody's devices have passed the FCC's white space testing requirements. Verizon has been outspoken in its objection to letting companies use white space spectrum for wireless devices. Tauke says that the company favors licensed spectrum.

Shure, a leading manufacturer of microphones, says the FCC's tests of white-space prototypes at FedEx field prior to Saturday's game between the Redskins and the Buffalo Bills conclusively showed that spectrum-sensing white-space devices "will cause harmful interference to wireless microphones during live events," said Mark Brunner, Shure's senior director of public and industry relations. "Simply stated, the prototype devices were unable to consistently identify operating wireless microphones or distinguish occupied from unoccupied TV channels. More troubling, the devices failed to detect the presence of wireless microphones when switched on--an occurrence that takes place multiple times during any NFL game."

Brunner added that there is no reason to believe that further technology enhancements such as beacons would help solve the interference problem. "These tests reveal fundamental deficiencies of sensing devices--issues that cannot be pushed off with a promise to resolve these problems at some later time during certification testing," he said.

When the FCC concludes the outdoors testing, the agency will prepare a report and make overall recommendations on the use of white-space devices. And whatever side the report favors, you can bet this issue will be far from being resolved given not only the strong opposition but also the commission's strong desire to see white space devices usher in more broadband competition. --Lynnette

White space approval: Is it a matter of when?

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:09:06 -0400

The FCC will begin field testing white space devices today to see whether the devices that access unused television airwaves, called "white spaces" will interfere with television broadcasts. That means the stakes are higher for everyone on both sides of what has become a contentious debate full of paranoia and fear.

Nearly everyone has weighed in on the debate. Companies such as Google and Microsoft want to use this unused spectrum to develop new mobile communications devices, but the initiative has raised the ire of the National Association of Broadcasters, which argues that "white space" devices may interfere with existing television broadcasts. Meanwhile, wireless carriers and the CTIA have advocated auctioning off the white space spectrum as has the NAB. Entertainers, sports leagues and hospitals have all voiced their concerns about potential interference with wireless microphones and hospital devices.

For its part, the Wireless Innovation Alliance, made up of a number of different companies advocating white-space services (Skype its its most recent member), says the FCC's approval of such devices is not a matter of if, but just when. "It's not a question of science. It is a question of politics," said spokesman Jake Ward in an interview. He expects the FCC to move forward with its final order immediately after this round of testing.

Of course, talk to the NAB and you get a whole different story. It remains highly skeptical that these field tests will prove themselves given the failures of prototypes in the lab. The first round of prototypes from Microsoft and Philips did indeed fail in lab test, but a second set of devices have done well enough on the lab that now the FCC is moving to field tests.

But the NAB isn't totally against white space spectrum per say. It's just against the unlicensed part. "We would like to see a fixed license system that would allow broadcasters, if there are interference issues that come up, to go to the FCC and figure out where interference is coming from," said spokesman Kristopher Jones. "In unlicensed world, we don't know where it would be coming from. The problem with unleashing these devices is that once they are out on the market, there's no pulling them back."

Can this spectrum actually be offered on a licensed basis? Steve Sharkey, senior director of regulatory and spectrum policy with Motorola, also an unlicensed white-space advocate, says no. "White space encompasses about 300 megahertz of television spectrum (after the DTV transition), but at many locations there are only portions available as you move from place to place. It's much more difficult to have usable spectrum. When you have to share with incumbent providers, it has to be an unlicensed approach," he said.

And there is strong evidence white-space devices can operate on an unlicensed basis, Sharkey says. All of the tests the FCC has done to date incorporated sensing technology--a technology similar to one used for cognitive radio communications. But Sharkey says more technologies can be incorporated to make sure interference doesn't happen. Motorola advocates geolocation technology that maps the location of the device and compares its location to that of TV stations in the area. Motorola's devices will be among the group of devices that will be tested in the field, and some will include geolocation. Sharkey says other technologies such as beacons can also add another layer of assurance.

Will all of this allay the concerns of the naysayers? Even if these prototypes, which are big boxes at this point, don't come out passing with flying colors, you can bet the FCC will go back to the drawing board because Chairman Kevin Martin and other commissioners want to see more broadband competition in the market. White space advocates say it's a matter of when and not if, but that when could turn out to be a long time if all doesn't go well during the next several weeks of testing. --Lynnette