Definately good news and a victory. But 2009? We know now wide scale rural
broadband expansion will be delayed a minimum of two years :-(, and that we
don't have to worry about our 900Mhz networks becoming obsolete before the
next two years :-).
Now we jsut have to wonder wether licensed 700Mhz will get deployed by the
license holders (our competitors) before we get our unlicensed 700Mhz vacant
space spectrum to compete?
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter R." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org>
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 8:52 AM
Subject: [WISPA] FCC Ponders How To Fill Up 'White Spaces'
*FCC Moves on 700MHz Analog Spectrum*
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/78792
FCC Ponders How To Fill Up 'White Spaces'
http://www.telecomweb.com/tnd/19766.html
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC </search/?query=FCC>) today
unanimously took several first-step actions, including the partial grant
of a Qualcomm petition, to start considering new broadband, video and
other potential uses of the 700 MHz analog RF bands being freed by the
U.S. broadcasters' digital-television (DTV) transition in February 2009.
The main items, based on a an existing proceeding, surround the
possibility of licensed, unlicensed or hybrid arrangements for systems,
services and personal devices to leverage what are known as "white spaces"
channels (blank intervals) that are under-utilized by American TV
broadcasters today. The moves include a First Report and Order setting up
some interim rules and regulations on white-space usage parameters as well
as a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) to thrash out technical
requirements and other details that might be implemented on a permanent
basis.
All told, the Order and the FNPRM envision fixed low-power systems and
services in the 700 MHz band operating at timeframes or at locations where
TV broadcasters as well as public-safety communications authorities, in
several instances, aren't using the white-space channels. Also to be
excluded from consideration in the proposed scheme are some specific
white-space channels currently used by U.S. radio-astronomy and
medical-communications activities.
In the regulatory process, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology
wonders whether the low-power offerings could co-habit with virtually all
the white-space channels. The FCC commissioners and staff also would like
to permit as wide a variety of personal portable-communications devices in
the permissible mix as possible, but the regulator needs far more input on
spectrum sensing, dynamic frequency selection plus other non-interference
methods and technologies before making such a determination.
In the Qualcomm matter, the FCC denied the company's request for a broad
declaratory ruling that would allow live video streams and clip-casting
(store and play) across the board in main DTV transition-freed 700 MHz
spectrum, which will be auctioned off - and a streamlined applications
process for such applications. Nevertheless, the FCC commissioners and
staff are enthusiastic about the prospect of such services from Qualcomm
and potentially many others, so the company's request was, in part,
granted.
The so-called partial relief will allow Qualcomm to test and demonstrate
subscriber video services in order to measure radio field strength
characteristics, technical quality levels and predictable interference
with existing 700 MHz broadcaster operations and minimal disruption to TV
viewers. The decision was limited at this time to Qualcomm but there are
additional petitions and comments -- as well as the FCC's own leanings --
that suggest a wider initiative is possible in anticipation of the DTV
transition. The regulator regarded its decision as a measured approach
toward encouraging 700 MHz innovations and a compromise to balance its
obligations that protect existing TV broadcast licensees and the viewers.
The FCC also started a Notice of Inquiry to collection opinions and data
for its 13th annual report to the U.S. Congress </search/?query=Congress>
on the status of competition in the video-programming- delivery market.
This assessment traditionally involves ownership, cost and content issues
as well as the likes of cable-TV, direct broadcast satellite and
over-the-air broadcasting, etc.; however, such newcomer and rapidly
approaching elements as mobile wireless video, Internet Protocol TV,
broadband penetration, telco entry into the business, streamlined video
franchising and DTV all are expected to be increasing factors in this
year's FCC research effort and suggestions to federal lawmakers.
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