Cable Industry Jumps Into White Space Fight [Broadband Reports]
Last year, the FCC unanimously approved plans for a rule-making process for so-called white space devices. If approved by the FCC, white space devices would operate in the frequencies between digital television channels, for the purpose of providing wireless broadband Internet. But, there's a problem with white space devices. Because the white-space devices operate in a band of frequencies used by other things - like broadcast television, cable television systems and wireless microphones, there is the strong possibility that white space devices could interfere with these other things.
When the FCC released their engineering test report on some prototype white space devices, there was ample evidence that at certain power levels, the prototypes had the ability to interfere with nearby cable television viewing. Because of all the potential problems that this interference presents, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) has weighed in with the FCC on white space device rules. Here's an excerpt of NCTA's filing with the FCC:
the 100 mW power output level adopted for personal/portable devices will interfere with cable television viewing, especially in adjoining housing units, and could adversely impact cable modem Internet access and other cable services in the home. . .while the Commission took several important steps to mitigate potential harmful interference to cable headend facilities that bring distant broadcast signals to communities, especially in rural areas, its cable headend protections are inadequate and some provisions need further clarification.
If approved by the FCC, the white space devices will be unlicensed, so its especially important that the FCC make sure that the devices aren't able to turn cable television to snow, interfere with cable headends, or disrupt cable broadband. Because, the Commission's own engineering report indicates the potential for the devices to interfere at higher power levels, the FCC should carefully weigh power limits of the devices in drafting white space rules.
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