Wifi Revolution

Last FCC (News - Alert) voted to open up unlicensed spectrum was in 1985, which led to the development of Wi-Fi. To unleash more new technologies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted again to free up vacant airwaves between TV channels, also called white spaces. This is the first significant block of spectrum made available for unlicensed use in 25 years, said the Federal agency. Last Thursday, five–member FCC voted unanimously to allow the use of white spaces in the broadcast TV spectrum to deliver broadband connections, which agency is calling super Wi–Fi. They hope to see devices with the new technology start to appear within a year.

TV white space spectrum is considered prime real estate because its signals travel well, making it ideally suited for mobile wireless devices. Unlocking this valuable spectrum will open the doors for new industries to arise, create American jobs, and fuel new investment and innovation, according to FCC. Foreseeing the importance of unlicensed spectrum in creating opportunities, the National Broadband Plan recommended that the Commission complete the TV white spaces proceeding as expeditiously as possible.

By opening this broadcast spectrum for Internet use, the commission is helping to unleash a whole new class of mobile wireless broadband services with applications that are nearly limitless," Dell (News - Alert) Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Dell said in a statement.

The Second Memorandum Opinion and Order (Second MO&O) adopted on Thursday resolves numerous legal and technical issues. Notably, the Order eliminates the requirement that TV bands devices that incorporate geo-location and database access must also include sensing technology to detect the signals of TV stations and low-power auxiliary service stations (wireless microphones). It also requires wireless microphone users who seek to register in the TV bands databases to certify that they will use all available channels from 7 through 51 prior to requesting registration. Requests to register in the database will be public, thus allowing interested parties to weigh in on any given request.

The FCC has also taken steps to ensure that incumbent services are protected from interference from the use of white spaces in various ways. In particular, it reserves two vacant UHF channels for wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary service devices in all areas of the country. Plus, it also maintains a reasonable separation distance between TV white space device and wireless microphone usage permitted to be registered in the database.

In reality, FCC first voted to allow the use of white spaces for broadband nearly two years ago. But, the plan faced opposition from TV broadcasters and wireless microphone manufacturers and users concerned about interference. Last week’s vote mandates the creation of a database with a map of TV channels across the country as well as big wireless microphone users, such as Broadway theaters and sports leagues. White spaces networks and devices would be required to determine their own location and then consult the database to find vacant frequencies to use. The FCC is also setting aside at least two channels for minor users of wireless microphones, according to Associated Press (News - Alert).