Chairman Martin and the white spaces
Yesterday, Telecommunications Reports quoted Chairman Martin - and it's quite an optimistic report.
Tiny background: Just as Brand X and Grokster came out on the same day, and Brand X has turned out to be centrally important (although all the press buzz was about Grokster), the FCC's report on white spaces devices came out the same day as the 700 MHz rules - and unlicensed use of the white spaces may be even more important than having the right rules apply to 700 MHz.
Why? Because so much more spectrum is at stake. There are about 294 MHz of (non-contiguous) white spaces (unused TV airwaves), and the most anyone thought would be available for wholesale access in the 700 MHz auction was 22 MHz.
You can do a lot more with 300 MHz than 22 MHz. You can find opportunistic ways of providing last-mile highspeed internet access on an unlicensed, fill-in basis. This could be key for unserved rural areas in this country. It could also be key for a tsunami of innovation and bit transport generally - just think how many more bits are being moved around via wifi hotspots in comparison with other kinds of transport. (A lot more.)
So when the FCC appeared to be pooh-poohing the ability of a couple of prototype devices to avoid interference, it was a big deal the other day.
Now Chairman Martin is expressing optimism, and it's a good thing:
I think the Commission remains … committed to be able to find a way to more efficiently utilize all of the spectrum, including the white spaces in the broadcast spectrum. . . . While I think that the engineers, you know, had some concerns with some of the devices, I think that they didn't conclude that it still would not be technically feasible. … Our engineers have actually opened up the process. They're trying to bring in engineers both from the broadcasters and from the technology companies to identify ways in which to improve those devices to ensure that it doesn't create undue interference.
So that's good news. For some reason, the Microsoft prototype failed the tests. There's time to do this right and get different prototypes in front of the Commission. Watch for the white spaces - they're key.