Unlocking the Potential of Unused Airwaves
An FCC decision promises major advances in high-speed Internet access.
In coming months, policymakers in Washington, D.C., have a unique opportunity to expand the availability of wireless broadband Internet services, while also encouraging development of innovative technologies that will bring huge benefits for consumers.
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to issue new rules for using vacant TV channels, known as “white spaces.” By February 2009, between 12 and 40 unused channels will be available in each U.S. broadcast market, once TV stations move to digital transmission. These frequencies are enormously valuable public assets because the characteristics that make them good for TV—their ability to cover broad areas and penetrate walls and trees—also make them advantageous for sending and receiving broadband data.
Opening them up for this purpose could help extend high-speed Internet access to rural and other areas beyond the reach of current providers. White spaces could also be used to create highly reliable, self-forming mesh networks, and to distribute audio and video wirelessly among devices within homes, schools and businesses. By helping the United States keep pace with broadband deployment in other industrialized economies, white spaces will enhance the nation’s economic competitiveness.
To fully realize these benefits, however, it is critical that the FCC allow unlicensed use of white spaces. This would let innovators freely develop products and offer services based on clear FCC rules and with FCC certification of devices before they are made available to consumers. Much as unlicensed access to the Wi-Fi spectrum has led to its widespread use, unlicensed access is also crucial to fulfilling the potential of white spaces.
Further, the FCC should permit use of white spaces for both fixed purposes—such as broadband hotspots—and portable devices—such as laptops, TVs, TV set-top boxes, PDAs, MP3 players, printers and digital cameras. FCC tests have demonstrated that portable devices can be designed to detect and avoid interference with TV signals and wireless microphones. Noninterference can be ensured through the FCC’s rules for use of the spectrum and through its certification process for devices.
The potential benefits of portable broadband access will lead to development of many innovative mobile devices and services, which will harness idle airwaves to serve consumers in new and creative ways, creating jobs and economic growth, and helping us all become better connected.
