WASHINGTON—Allocating spectrum for unlicensed uses would help rural America achieve full broadband deployment, the chief technology officer for Microsoft Corp. told lawmakers Tuesday. Microsoft’s CTO, Craig Mundie, endorsed bills that would make TV White Space spectrum available to unlicensed users.
“Unlicensed spectrum should be part of the solution. By pursuing serious spectrum reform, Congress can ensure that wireless broadband connections provide an alternative means to deliver broadband to all consumers, especially those in rural areas,” said Mundie. “Mr. Chairman, you and other members of this committee are to be commended for recently introducing bills that would put the Federal Communications Commission on this course—by requiring the FCC to make so-called white spaces in the TV broadcast spectrum available for unlicensed use.”
Mundie was one of several witnesses at a hearing by the Senate Commerce Committee on rural telecommunications. The hearing comes nearly three weeks after two bills were introduced to allocate unused TV channels for unlicensed uses.
While the TV white space allocation is not expected to be nationwide—since different channels are available in different TV markets—the concept would be the same nationwide.
Proponents of allocating the TV white space for unlicensed use have said it would help meet President George W. Bush’s goal of universal, affordable broadband by 2007. Proponents believe that smart radios would ensure the white space can be used without causing interference to adjacent TV channels—but the TV industry disagrees.
The TV broadcasting industry has been fighting a similar proposal pending at the FCC.
The TV white space proceeding at the FCC is heating up as the transition to DTV begins in earnest. In the same bill that set the completion date for the DTV transition at Feb. 19, 2008, language was included directing the FCC to complete TV white space rules within one year.
Using the TV white space is a consolation prize for advocates of unlicensed uses, led by the New America Foundation. These advocates wanted one-third of the spectrum being returned as part of the DTV transition to be used for unlicensed uses. However, Congress balked at this proposal since unlicensed spectrum generates no auction revenues.
