FCC to decide what to do with unlicensed spectrum

By on Oct 12, 2008 at 3:03 AM
General October 12, 2008

Once television goes digital, there is going to be some open “white space” in the air and the FCC is now deciding on how the spectrum should be used. Companies like Google and Microsoft want the space for a variety of reasons – Google mainly suggesting it be open for use by anyone (so they can get their platform onto more devices that will be using the spectrum, one would assume). Naturally, mobile carriers and device makers want the spectrum so they can expand their business and sell more products and services. But the National Association of Broadcasters aren’t too keen on that idea and have other plans of their own. Now, it’s just up to the FCC to lay out a plan for how the open spectrum should be put to use. Years of data collected and testing will be done to help the FCC make a final decision on just how the spectrum would be best used exactly. Field tests are being conducted because some companies, like T-Mobile, are saying certain uses for the spectrum would interfere with their services. Hey, as long as we can get a little bandwidth allocation for BGR, we’re happy with whatever they decide to do.

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  • Martin

    If we could get some White Space Broadband action going on in the unused spectrum we might finally have a 3rd option in the states for broadband internet. I strangely find myself cheering for Microsoft.

  • Galvatron

    if i was the telco id wantthe bands that match ero frequncies fro hsdpa and umsts bt that’s already screwd up as it is

  • MadMike

    We can use it to beam electricity from solar panels in space so we can thwart global warming. Then we can flip a switch and microwave people we don’t like.

  • http://www.zatznotfunny.com Dave Zatz

    Of course most of that analog television spectrum is already spoken for via the huge government auction – I think VZW claimed the largest slice of the pie.

  • http://www.bgr.com Marc Flores

    @Dave Yes, Verizon got the bigger piece in the bidding war against Google for the 700Mhz spectrum.

  • Ryan

    How about letting smaller providers bid for it. So we can keep more competition.

  • DavidB

    You people need to read up what white space is. This has nothing to do with spectrum bands that were auctioned off already. This is the spectrum “gaps” between the analog TV channels that have existed since broadcast tv came on line. Try out some reading at fiercewireless.com (amongst others) to get some info before you think this is the holy grail of broadband or otherwise make up your mind for or against this.

    Oh, and IMHO, most of the whiners (other than TMO) that are against this are people like the makers of wireless microphones and such that are already using this “white space” for their existing unlicensed devices/applications. So if the unlicensed band they use now for their mics in stadiums (for example) starts being used for broadband by the likes of Google and MS, their devices will get “stomped on” (in old timer CB radio lingo).

  • yayo

    Fuck that nerd.

  • Fireye

    fuck yourself….that nerd knows his shit – and he is right.

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