FYI --- Michael Calabrese <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Subject: News Release: New America and Media Access > Project File Comments at FCC (2/1) > Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 17:52:44 -0500 > From: "Michael Calabrese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > For immediate release: > February 1, 2005 > > Contact: > Michael > Calabrese, Director, Spectrum Policy Program, New > America Foundation > > > (202) > 986-2700; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > Jim Snider, > Senior Research Fellow, Spectrum Policy, New America > Foundation > > > (202) > 986-2700; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > New America Foundation and Media Access Project File > Comments at the FCC > > Broadest Possible Access to Broadcast Spectrum for > Unlicensed Devices > Will Spur Wireless Innovation, States National > Coalition > > > > Last night, the New America Foundation filed reply > comments in the FCC's > historic proceeding on the use of unlicensed devices > in the TV broadcast > bands. The stakes in this proceeding are great-the > very future of > innovation in wireless broadband technologies, > particularly for use in > rural areas, may be at risk in this matter. Do TV > broadcasters have > exclusive rights to use the valuable frequencies > allotted to them, or do > the real owners of the spectrum-the public-have a > right to share, > experiment, and innovate in these bands? > > > > New America and the Media Access Project, along with > a distinguished > national coalition, filed two sets of reply comments > with the FCC. The > first is a technical analysis refuting the claims of > the broadcast TV > lobby regarding interference risk from unlicensed > devices, and the > second addresses the harm to the public interest > caused by expanding > broadcasters' rights to the TV bands. Descriptions > of the documents, as > well as links to them on our website, are provided > below. > > > > Technical Reply Comments > > This technical analysis rebuts the assessment of the > National > Association of Broadcasters and other commenters > regarding the > interference risks to broadcasters posed by new > unlicensed devices. A > distinguished group of engineers and technology > companies, including > Microsoft, the Shared Spectrum Company, and Vanu, > Inc. argue that > allowing such devices access in the broadcast bands > poses no great risk > to broadcasters, and builds on precedents in FCC > action regarding > commercial products and military R&D. > > http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2202_1.pdf > > > > Coalition Reply Comments > > Broadcasters are increasingly laying exclusive claim > to unused spectrum, > a strategy aimed at safeguarding their economic > incentives and not based > on legitimate interference concerns. A simple > economic analysis > illustrates that broadcasters are seeking to receive > a spectrum windfall > of up to $20 billion by keeping unlicensed service > off the empty > channels on the TV dial. The coalition argues that > no justification > exists for this expansion of broadcasters' rights to > the TV bands at the > expense of unlicensed operations. Unlicensed access > to these bands is > critical to spur innovation in wireless > technologies, such as wireless > broadband, and is essential for the public interest. > > > http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2203_1.pdf > > > > > > We thank you for your interest and encourage you to > read our comments on > this important issue. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Michael Calabrese > > Director, Spectrum Policy Program > > New America Foundation > > > > > > -- NYCwireless - http://www.nycwireless.net/ Un/Subscribe: http://lists.nycwireless.net/mailman/listinfo/nycwireless/ Archives: http://lists.nycwireless.net/pipermail/nycwireless/
