What Broadband Shortage? FCC Approves White Spaces

The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously voted to approve use of vacant TV broadcast spectrum on an unlicensed basis, clearing the way for development of broadband data devices and services that could be used by businesses and consumers.

The rules permit the operation of unlicensed devices in the TV white spaces on both a fixed and portable basis. Such devices generally must include a geo-location capability, the ability to access a data base of the licensed users and services and spectrum-sensing technology, all to avoid interference with licensed users and services.

Those users include full-power and low-power TV stations and cable system headends.

Wireless microphones will be protected in a variety of ways. The locations where wireless microphones are used, such as sporting venues and event and production facilities, can be registered in the data base and will be protected in the same way as other services.
The Commission also has required that devices include the ability to listen to the airwaves to sense wireless microphones as an additional measure of protection for these devices.

All white space devices are subject to equipment certification by the FCC Laboratory. The Laboratory will request samples of the devices for testing to ensure that they meet all the pertinent requirements.

The Commission also will permit certification of devices that do not include the geo-location and data base access capabilities, and instead rely solely on spectrum sensing to avoid causing harmful interference, subject to a much more rigorous approval process.

Generally speaking, initial devices are expected to operate at lower power. But device manufacturers may continue to provide additional information to the Commission to support the use of higher-power devices in adjacent channels. In addition, the Commission will explore in a separate inquiry whether higher-powered unlicensed operations might be permitted in TV white spaces in rural areas.

The proposal, approved on a five-to-zero vote, is expected to offer new opportunities for broadband data services in both urban and rural areas.

Though some conventional wisdom continues to assert that the United States has a "broadband access" problem, the FCC's decision suggests, along with other data, that broadband access is not a terribly big problem. A recent survey of about 146 rural telcos shows 100-percent availability of broadband. Fully 93 percent of those providers report there is broadband competition already, in their markets.

And now we will have "white spaces" to contend with.