[LINK] The US and analog tv whitespace

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

FCC rejects 'white space' device backed by Google, HP, Intel

Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal  
2:49 PM PDT Wednesday, August 8, 2007
<http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2007/08/06/daily62.html>

A prototype device supported by companies like Google Inc., Hewlett-
Packard Co., and Intel Corp. was criticized in a report by the Federal 
Communications Commission, which warns that the device could cause 
interference and cannot reliably detect unused TV spectrum. 

Mountain View-based Google is part of the White Space Coalition along with 
companies that include Palo Alto-based HP, Santa Clara-based Intel, 
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. and Round Rock, Texas-based Dell Inc. 

The group said the device could be used to beam high-speed Internet 
service over unused television airwaves, and that it believes the spectrum 
can be used without resulting interference to wireless signals and 
television. 

The coalition said it plans to work with the FCC to identify the problems. 

The companies say that white space, or the unlicensed and unused TV 
airwaves, could be used to make Internet service accessible and 
affordable, particularly in rural areas. 


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'White Spaces Coalition'
>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The White Spaces Coalition consists of eight large technology companies 
that plan on delivering high speed (broadband) internet access to 
consumers via existing unused analog television frequencies. 

The coalition claims that broadband speeds for "single-user applications" 
could reach 50 to 100 MBps [1] The group includes Microsoft, Google, Dell, 
HP, Intel, Philips, Earthlink, and Samsung.

Senate decision
Analog television broadcasts, which operate between the 54MHz and 698MHz 
television frequencies, are slated to cease operating per a United States 
Senate mandate in February 2009. 

This is also the timetable that the white space coalition has set to 
possibly begin offering wireless broadband services to consumers. The 
delay allows enough time for the United States Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) to test the technology and make sure that it does not 
interfere with existing television broadcasts. S

Similar technologies could be used worldwide as much of the core 
technology is already in place. 

It was thought in 2005 that the value of the entire U.S. analog television 
spectrum could reach more than $20 billion at government auction.

The White Spaces Coalition formed in late 2006[citation needed], soon 
after the Senate set the date to cease analog broadcasts.

Unfortunately, many companies (like those making wireless audio systems) 
that already use these TV bands have to now grapple with the fact that 
their wireless PA systems will no longer function properly if unlicensed 
devices are to now be able to operate within the same spectrum. Solutions 
at all major companies are currently pushing for deployment of their new 
products by Feb. 2009.

Early Developments

The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Engineering and 
Technology released a report dated July 31, 2007 with results from its 
investigation of two preliminary devices submitted. The report concluded 
that the devices did not reliably sense the presence of television 
transmissions or other incumbent users, hence are not acceptable for use 
in their current state and no further testing was deemed necessary. 
However, it must be noted that these two devices are only considered 
prototypes and that they were be used as a benchmark for future 
developments.
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