Technology360

FCC OET report supports claims of interference by unlicensed devices

Veteran broadcast engineering consultant Charlie Rhodes must be smiling today.  No one has been more active in warning about interference to television broadcasters from proposed unlicensed devices using the same spectrum, and yesterday Tuesday the FCC issued a report supporting this position.

Nate Anderson writes:

The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology issued a report late yesterday that gave negative marks to current attempts at building a personal "white space" receiver and transmitter. Such a device could open up the empty spaces in the television spectrum for unlicensed wireless broadband, unleashing a surge of creativity and innovation that could make WiFi look as attractive as a 900MHz cordless phone. That is, so long as such a device actually works.  ¶  On the day that the switch over to digital television broadcasts is finalized in early 2009, companies could be free to sell unlicensed devices that can send and receive information in whatever parts of the television spectrum are unused in a given location (well, except for channels 37 and 52-69), so long as they meet FCC engineering criteria. Because the low frequencies used by over-the-air television signals are able to cover great distances and penetrate walls with ease, they theoretically provide a perfect place to deploy wireless broadband technologies over great distances—without having to purchase a chunk of licensed spectrum at auction. ...

Link:  Ars Technica.

From the FCC web site:

FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Announces the Release of Reports of Initial Measurements on TV White Space Devices.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat
Prototype Devices Report: Acrobat
Appendices A & B: Acrobat
Direct Pickup Report: Word | Acrobat

Disclosure:  I'm on the board of the Association of Public Television Stations, one of the organizations which has been expressing concerns about interference from these devices.  Still, I hope that through finding alternative spectrum, improvements in the interference rejection characteristics of receivers, "smart" broadband devices or other means, we can encourage open spectrum usage by wireless broadband devices.  We broadcasters need to embrace alternative platforms for content distribution. 

Update 7 August 2007:
See also Robert Horvitz's, FCC announces test results for TV "white-space" prototypes.  Link: Open Spectrum.  --Dennis

FCC sets 700-MHz auction rules

Nate Anderson writes:

... What eventually came out of the meeting was an interesting mix of policies: a Frontline-style public/private partnership for public safety, a weakened form of "open access" for new commercial licensees, and no wholesale requirement. ...

Link:  Ars Technica.

The 700 MHz Controversy - Fighting Over the Reclaimed TV Spectrum

About FCC rules relating to the upcoming auction of some spectrum currently occupied by UHF television broadcasters, David Oxenford writes:

... Users of the Internet, led by Google, have argued for an open system, where a subscriber pays for access to the wireless spectrum, and can essentially connect any device or receive any service, just as long as it does not damage the network.  This is much like the current wired telephone network, where a consumer can connect a telephone or a fax machine or a laptop computer and get access to the network.  Proponents of this model contend that it will encourage technological development as companies compete to develop different applications that can run on the network,and provide a "third pipe" into the home providing high speed Internet access to compete with that provided by cable and telephone companies.  Some might assume that content providers like broadcasters would favor that open approach so that their content can be easily delivered to the consumer, without the broadcaster having to cut any sort of deal with the network provider to get access. ...

Link:  Davis Wright Tremaine's Broadcast Law Blog.

Also see Eric Bangeman's Google announces intent to bid on 700MHz spectrum auction, if...:

... The four conditions outlined by Google in its letter announcing its intent to bid would go a long way towards ensuring that the freed-up spectrum fulfills its potential as a "third broadband pipe." Under a truly open network, consumers would be able to use any application on any device that they want. Also, winning bidders would be forced to license their spectrum at wholesale prices, which would keep one or two companies from gobbling up all the spectrum and limiting competitor (or even customer access to it). Lastly, ISPs would be able to interconnect freely to the 700MHz network at any technically feasible point. ...

Link:  Ars Technica.

Then see Miguel Helft's F.C.C. Heading Toward Rejection of Google's Wireless Auction Conditions:

... The commission’s chairman, Kevin Martin, proposed his version of so-called “open access” rules that would apply to about third of the spectrum being auctioned. These would allow consumers to connect to the wireless network with any device running any application. The two Democratic commissioners said they supported the idea, and the two Republican commissioners said they were undecided.  ¶   But a key point Martin, a Republican, would not support, and that Google insists on, is a rule forcing whoever wins the spectrum at the auction to wholesale parts of it to other companies who want to resell it. ...

Link:  New York Times. 

Finally, check out Robert X. Cringely's Is Google on Crack?: Eric Schmidt bets the ranch on wireless spectrum.  Link:  PBS. --Dennis

NAB: Back to the Paper Bag

Capitol Hill and telecom watcher Drew Clark says:

... right now television and radio broadcasters have never been weaker than in 1982, when Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., uttered these famous words: “The NAB can’t lobby its way out of a paper bag.” ...

He then has some interesting analysis of the interest in the UHF TV spectrum, and ends with:

... But for those who believe that the NAB is amenable to reason, and economic incentives, here’s the next puzzle: what will it take to entice broadcasters to sell, give up or vacate the remaining airwaves? There are plenty of telcos, techies, and community activists that believe they can do better with them. All they need now is a game plan to help the broadcasters out of their paper bag.

Link:  DrewClark.com.

To be read in conjunction with The Art of Spectrum Lobbying.  --Dennis

The Art of Spectrum Lobbying

The New America Foundation has released a report by J. H. Snider with this title, but the subtitle, "America's $480 Billion Spectrum Giveaway, How it Happened, and How to Prevent it from Recurring," is more descriptive.  Snider has written widely on spectrum issues, often for the NAF, where he is Research Director of its Wireless Future Program.  His points frequently include the inefficiency of current spectrum allocations (television broadcasting being one of the biggest), that the public should receive compensation for use of the spectrum (which would incent efficient use), and the importance of allocating additional spectrum to wireless IP delivery.  One might describe the effects of the first and third as moving spectrum from my mother to my children.

I generally admire the work of the NAF and have spoken at one of its events.  While I think his writing is thoughtful and constructive, I've also been critical that he and other wireless advocates frequently low-ball the number of Americans who depend on over-the-air reception and that he presents an analysis of how spectrum should be allocated for broadcasting that misses the realities of consumer behavior and broadcast economics: paraphrasing -- they have one standard definition channel now, so they should be able to get by with one of their current six megahertz in the digital world.

I've only had a chance to skim the paper, but it will be important reading for broadcasters, if only to keep us from taking the public spectrum we occupy for granted.  And you just might learn something.

Link:  New America Foundation. 

Update 21 July 2007:
If you're interested in the above, also check out:  NAB: Back to the Paper Bag on this weblog.  --Dennis

Google Proposes Innovation in Radio Spectrum Auction

John Markoff writes:

Google filed a proposal on Monday with the Federal Communications Commission calling on the agency to let companies allocate radio spectrum using the same kind of real-time auction that the search engine company now uses to sell advertisements. ...

... In their proposal, Google executives argue that by permitting companies to resell the airwaves in a real-time auction would make it possible to greatly improve spectrum use and simultaneously create a robust market for innovative digital services. For instance, a company could resell its spectrum on an as-needed basis to other providers, the executives said in their formal proposal to the federal agency. ...

... The proposal is for the wholesale auction of spectrum. However, in the future such a system might require that advanced computing technology be built into wireless handsets and computers to automate the auction bidding process and permit it to take place without users noticing. The Google proposal states that such a system would reduce retail prices for wireless spectrum and extend Internet access into rural areas not now served by existing providers. ...

Link:  New York Times.  If the NYT link doesn't work for you, CNet has "reprinted" the article.

Corey Boles of the Associated Press has more in, Google's novel idea for FCC spectrum auction.  Link:  USA Today.  --Dennis

Tested DTV tuners don’t achieve ATSC interference rejection mark, says report

An unsigned article in BroadcastEngineering reports:

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology released a report March 30 showing that none of DTV receivers tested to determine their ability to reject interference from proposed TV-band devices using so-called TV white-band channels and other sources “appeared to fully achieve the ATSC recommended guidelines for interference rejection performance.”  ¶  The Technical Research Branch Laboratory Division conducted the tests to help in assessing interference to DTV reception from non-TV use of unused TV spectrum, often called white space use, non-TV use of spectrum adjacent to TV spectrum and other DTV stations.  ¶  Significantly, the ATSC interference rejection guidelines for DTVs are less stringent than the assumptions made about receiver performance used as criteria for current DTV interference protection. The tests also show the degree to which the tested DTV receivers comply with ATSC’s voluntary receiver performance guideline standards. ...

... To read the report in its entirety, visit: click here.

Link:  BroadcastEngineering.  NB:  The FCC link is broken as of Saturday evening.  --Dennis

Inside the 700 MHz spectrum land grab

Drew Clark writes:

... The next big spectrum land grab is over 700 Megahertz (MHz.) It’s the promised land of “beachfront property” that broadcasters are set to vacate on February 19, 2009, when the transition to digital television is supposed to be complete. Lots of folks are jockeying now to lock up these airwaves. ...

Link:  GigaOM.  Good overview of what's happening to vacated analog television spectrum.  --Dennis

Hot Spectrum Draws Cash, and Ideals

We''ve known that the UHF television channels in the 700-MHz range will become, after the analog television shut-down, spectrum for a new multimedia/4G services.  You can get a feel for what services when you see who is working the issue in Washington.  John Markoff takes a look at this in the Times:

... “This is the realization of a truly national wireless Internet,” said Reed E. Hundt, a former F.C.C. chairman.  ¶  Last month Mr. Hundt launched a Washington-based organization called Frontline Wireless and filed a proposal with the F.C.C. to create an “open access” network intended to support both public safety services and the creation of a system to offer wholesale broadband network service. ...

... Earlier this month Google also helped create a lobbying group called Alliance for 4-G America, with partners including Yahoo, EchoStar Communications, DirecTV, Intel and Skype, in an effort to influence the F.C.C.’s rule-making for the auction.  ¶  Several industry executives and analysts said it was unlikely that Google or Yahoo would directly take part in bidding for the new wireless spectrum, for fear of antagonizing communications companies by competing directly with them. But both companies are intensely interested in persuading the F.C.C. not to give advantages to the wireless incumbents in the bidding process.  ¶  Google, Yahoo and other Internet companies are worried about the ability of large cable and telephone companies to restrict certain types of Internet traffic, or to give priority service to some content providers over others, possibly for a fee. Companies like AT&T and Verizon have responded that such measures might be necessary to protect their investments in broadband networks.  ¶  Industry executives have said that Verizon Wireless or other cellular companies might be willing to spend billions of dollars for the spectrum simply to block competitors, or possibly for voice applications intended to help the national cellular companies compete more effectively against smaller regional and local cellular firms. ...

Link:  New York Times.  --Dennis

 

Google, Intel, Skype and Yahoo! Seek Rules for Bidding on Broadcast Frequencies

Drew Clark writes:

The country's two satellite television companies have joined forces with four major technology companies and a wireless company to promote the auction of frequencies currently used by television broadcasters.  ¶  In a March 5 meeting at the Federal Communications Commission with FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, the tech companies – Google, Intel, Skype and Yahoo! – joined with Access Spectrum to promote their "Coalition for 4G in America."  ¶  The engagement of Internet giants like Google and Yahoo!, which traditionally have not lobbied the FCC, suggests considerable interest by the technology industry in the upcoming auction, which is set to begin no later than January 28, 2008. In 2006, Congress fixed February 19, 2009, as the end-date for analog television, freeing a wide swath of radio-frequencies for use by new technologies. ...

Link:  DrewClark.com.