Cell Geek

The FCC met today and have decided on a compromise. The proposed order would allow the use of unlicensed devices to use the spectrum between television broadcast channels. Carriers have contested the use of white space for fear that the use of this spectrum may cause harmful interference with their existing ASW-1 networks. Engineers for the FCC have completed grueling tests under the watchful eye of third party engineers to determine if the tests would have a negative affect. The entertainment industry is also concerned as wireless microphones, and similar equipment also makes use of this space.

The Engineering tests conclude that while using spectrum sensing only technology, harmful interference can result of occasion. As a result the commission has adopted a new policy along with the approval of the use of this white space. The devices must be tested and certified with the FCC. The device must use both spectrum sensing as well as geo-location technologies. Major venues where a concert may be held may be logged in a data base. This database will feed information to the device about what signals it may use in the geographic area. This will also protect the cellular carriers from harmful interference in the same manner. The device will also be certified to comply with Part 15 of the FCC rules and regulations. This will require the device to shut down, in the event there is a device error and it begins to cause interference. The FCC ended this item by noting that the use of white space is a beginning step, and they hope that the commission following them will implement the necessary changes to allow the use of white space for licensed spectrum also. This will bring into fruition the use of this spectrum for rural area back haul, and possibly Internet services.

This commission meeting was blogged live by CellGeek. To see a live blog replay follow the link below.

CellGeek Live Blog Event: FCC Commission Meeting November 4th, 2008

Related Articles:

FCC: Alltel and Verizon's Final Hurdle Cleared

FCC: Sprint and Clearwire Are Given The Green Light

FCC White Space Testing is Complete

[Current News]

After starting considerably late, the meeting was finally underway. Please find the compete replay of our live event available below.



Related Articles:

FCC: Alltel and Verizon's Final Hurdle Cleared

The wireless industry is in an uproar over the findings of the test conducted over the last couple months by the FCC. The FCC has determined that the AWS-3 or "White space" spectrum will not cause significant interference to existing networks. The cellular incumbents disagree. T-Mobile, At&t, Comcast, CTIA, Ericcson, Motorola, Qualcomm, and US Cellular all have sent a petition the FCC to reconsider their position. The group is sighting mistakes made during the interference tests. Mistakes were made in calculations related to power levels and overload interference effects. The letter also politely informs the FCC that they used unacceptable engineering practices to arrive at their determination. The group currently plans to sway the FCC's board vote against the AWS-3 auction, and if this fails they intend to pursue litigation. This looks to me like M2Z Networks will be left waiting in the wings for a long time to come, as the incumbents are going to keep this tied up in litigation as long as they can. M2Z will be burried in paperwork and we will be lucky to hear from them again.

[Wireless Week]

[Current News]

For quite a while now there has been a battle raging between the FCC, companies like Google, and companies like T-Mobile. Google and some other open source companies want to see the white space, or frequencies between cellular frequencies opened up for unlicenced use. T-Mobile and a few other select companies claim that the use of these frequencies will interfere with their network. Oddly enough T-Mobile Germany does this quite successfully with one of their own Internet products in an almost identical way. T-Mobile seems like they are trying to block the opening of this spectrum as a power play to keep competition out of this market. T-Mobile USA in recent months has finally started their roll out of 3G high speed data technology. Other carriers are already light years ahead with their high speed internet roll outs. Sprint, for expample, has already rolled out WiMax for their 4th generation data network. Keeping any more competition out the the Internet arena would be a good idea for T-Mobile, especially the following that a company like Google will bring to wireless Internet. Google has an extremely strong customer fan base that is very loyal. A Google Internet launch would be huge. The report with the final results of the white space testing should be out in the next week. We should see a finaly desicion about white space usage shortly after.

Related Articles:

FCC: Unlicensed White Space Given A Go

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants 25% of the upcoming AWS-3 auction held for free wireless broadband. The FCC still has a fixation with delivering free wireless to rural areas, and expect everyone else to pay for it. How about giving the spectrum free to a group for the purpose of making this happen. The FCC could set implementation guidelines for the group, and offer matched funding, and assistance will business model so there would be a way for the investing company to profit without passing direct cost to customers. The AWS spectrum is already having too many provisions placed on it. The market is not going to tolerate an overly restricted spectral block at auction. The auction will finally occur, and the minimum bid will never be triggered. NOTE TO FCC: Rethink the rules for the auction of this spectrum to give bidders a little more freedom to achieve your goal, maybe you will get more cooperation!