FCC Seeks Database Manager To Identify Unused TV Spectrum [Multichannel News]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken another step toward the possibility of broadband, wireless Internet using current broadcast television spectrum. Last week the Commission issued a request for potential managers for a database that will identify which parts of the broadcast spectrum are used in specific geographic areas. Because so-called white space technology uses portions of the TV spectrum that are currently in use for broadcasts, wireless microphones and cable television, white space Internet devices will need a mechanism to avoid interfering with those activities. The FCC and white space advocates believe that the devices can use a database of frequencies used by the other activities to avoid interference.
For example, the database would contain the locations of television transmitters, the frequency they transmit on and the range of their transmissions. White space boxes in that range would access the FCC's database, which would tell the boxes to avoid transmissions on that frequency. Questions arise over how detailed the FCC's database will be in order for these white space devices to avoid all harmful interference. Right now, the FCC is seeking proposals from entities that want to create and maintain this database.
Those seeking to propose to handle the white space database have until January 4th to make their pitch to the FCC. The public will then have a comment period that will last until February 18th.
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