“The television industry’s shift from analog to digital broadcasts will leave ‘white spaces’ — that is, unused portions of wireless spectrum — that could be allocated for a variety of new services, such as high-speed wireless Internet access. Despite television and cable broadcasters’ objections over potential interference, the FCC has given the use of white spaces a green light,” Erika Morphy reports for TechNewsWorld.
“The FCC’s order appears to take into account incumbent broadcasters’ concerns that these new devices will trample on their spectrum,” Morphy reports. “For instance, both fixed and personal/portable unlicensed devices must include a geolocation capability and provisions to access over the Internet a database of the incumbent services in addition to spectrum-sensing technology. The database will tell the white space device what spectrum may be used at that location — ensuring that no disruption of established service will occur.”
“It is difficult to identify a specific killer app that will result from the FCC’s action, Ryan Radia, an analyst with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told TechNewsWorld. ‘What is certain, though, is that we will soon see a range of consumer devices come to market, complete with Internet connectivity and geolocation capability. The proliferation of white space devices is sure to change the dynamic of America’s broadband marketplace, potentially giving consumers more options for high-speed Internet service,'” Morphy reports.
More in the full article here.