PoA TRAILER TODAY!!
On Nov 14, 2003, at 11:41 AM, Dewitt Latimer wrote:
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<x-tad-bigger>----- Original Message -----</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>From:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Wendy Wigen</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Sent:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>Friday, November 14, 2003 11:38 AM</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>Subject:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>[WIRELESS] Lots of action at the FCC yesterday</x-tad-bigger>
The FCC released several announcements yesterday. One regarding additional unlicensed spectrum availability and another announcing a new inquiry into "interference temperature." Links to the press releases are available on the team site or atwww.fcc.gov. The Wall Street Journal ran an article this AM sumarizing the two:
FCC Agrees to Provide More Spectrum for Wi-Fi
By MARK WIGFIELD
Dow Jones Newswires
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Communications Commission unanimously
agreed to provide a large swath of spectrum it said could be used to
accommodate the fast-growing demand for wireless devices, ranging
from simple cordless phones to local Wi-Fi wireless networks.
The move was backed by a major technology companies, including Intel
Inc., Microsoft Corp., Motorola Inc. and other consumer electronics
manufacturers. However, consumer groups said that because of
limitations in the spectrum's frequency range, it fails to provide a
solution for "last-mile" access for high-speed Internet.
"If the government wants to facilitate affordable wireless broadband,
it will need to expand unlicensed access to lower frequency bands,
ideally in the grossly underutilized broadcast bands," said Jim
Snider, a senior research fellow at a group called the New America
Foundation, in a prepared remarks.
The spectrum will be used by devices that operate at low power,
eliminating the need for the spectrum licenses required of
broadcasters or mobile-phone providers in the frequencies they use.
However, both those industries have fiercely resisted unlicensed use
of their frequencies, which have fewer limitations.
In filings with the FCC, Microsoft said the FCC "may eventually need
to address a demand for additional spectrum for higher-power
operations supporting outdoor, last-mile connectivity."
But the new spectrum will provide capacity that will relieve pressure
on frequencies that are more useful for last-mile broadband
connections, said Ed Thomas, chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering
and Technology. With Thursday's addition of 255 megahertz of spectrum
for unlicensed uses, the total capacity is now 600 MHz.
Mr. Thomas also said the airwaves could be used by "smart radios"
that will be able to automatically choose the most appropriate
frequencies for an application.
In a related matter, the FCC has begun developing rules for wireless
devices capable of sensing when the cumulative unlicensed use of
spectrum use in an area could interfere with licensed users, such as
broadcast stations. The devices would shut down or switch to other
frequencies once the overall level of interference became too high.
The so-called "interference temperature" approach "has the potential
to tremendously improve radio spectrum management," said FCC Chairman
Michael Powell in a statement. "The marketplace demands for spectrum
require that we explore new ways to use this resource more
efficiently."
Mobile-phone companies who paid millions of dollars for spectrum at
auction are certain to want allowable interference levels to be set
as low as possible. The industry's trade association, the Cellular
Telecommunications & Internet Association, said the concept "will
require significant additional analysis and studies."
Write to Mark Wigfield at
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Wendy Wigen
<x-tad-smaller>Policy Analyst</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>EDUCAUSE</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>1150 18th St. NW, Suite 1010</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>Washington, DC 20036-3824</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>Ph:� 202 331 5372</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller>Fax: 202 872 4318</x-tad-smaller>
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