TV White Spaces Revisions Expected at FCC October Meeting
The FCC is targeting a follow-up order on TV white spaces for the Oct. 27 commissioners’ meeting, the last before the Nov. 3 presidential election, said industry and agency officials. Nothing is certain almost two months out, but the meeting could be a big one for spectrum. Reallocation of the 5.9 GHz band also is in Chairman Ajit Pai’s sights (see 2008200040).
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Pai said in recent letters to lawmakers he plans action this year (see 2008310052). Commissioners unanimously approved an NPRM in February seeking comment on proposals to allow devices that use TV white space to operate with higher power in less-congested areas (see 2002280055). The NPRM was based on an agreement between Microsoft, the main proponent, and NAB. “NAB has worked constructively with both Microsoft and the Commission’s staff on the majority of Microsoft’s proposals, and we look forward to the prompt conclusion of this proceeding,” a spokesperson emailed.
“I'm very glad to hear that the FCC may be clearing up some of the remaining issues,” said Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen: “Anything the FCC can do to resolve the uncertainties around TV white spaces spectrum is likely to inspire greater investment by schools and libraries in expanding their wireless broadband services to the community.”
The Wireless ISP Association backs revised rules. “These changes would result in a more attractive service to providers, device makers and third-party services, injecting needed competition into the ecosystem,” said Louis Peraertz, vice president-policy. “In bringing down costs, [TV white spaces] will become a more viable alternative to providers, giving them a powerful and cost-effective tool to broaden deployment and connect unserved Americans.”
Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, told us the FCC appears on track for an October vote. “Our primary concern is that the order not be limited to the issues that Microsoft and NAB have agreed on, but also update the rules to reflect the advances in spectrum sharing technology over the past decade, since database-controlled use of the TV white space channels were first adopted in 2010,” he said.
In a filing posted Tuesday in docket 20-36, Calabrese said he spoke with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The filing asked to “authorize use of the Longley-Rice Irregular Terrain Model (ITM) methodology, which the Commission has authorized for automated frequency coordination by geolocation databases in other shared bands.” Microsoft made its latest pitch last week, in a call with Office of Engineering and Technology staff. The company didn't comment now.
“People need to get connected now -- to learn, to see their doctors and to keep the economy moving,” a WifiForward spokesperson emailed: “By repurposing unused TV airwaves for mobile broadband, the FCC is meeting the moment.”