WASHINGTON-Two TV broadcasters agreed to move out of the 700 MHz band early under a deal with Qualcomm Inc., making way for the company to move forward with its plans to stream TV content on its MediaFlo service.
The Federal Communications Commission said it approved agreements between Qualcomm and Paxson Communications Corp. permitting Qualcomm early access in Chicago and Milwaukee, and between Qualcomm and Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc. for early access in Gary, Ind.
Qualcomm is using the nationwide license for TV channel 55 to build a one-way streaming video network to offer mobile TV services based on its proprietary MediaFlo technology. The chipmaker hopes to allow carriers a way to offload data-heavy video services onto a dedicated network, preserving cellular infrastructure for other on-demand video, voice calls and Internet access.
Verizon Wireless has announced plans to use MediaFlo, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and LG Electronics Co. Ltd. recently announced plans to build phones for the offering.
Since TV channel 55 is part of the 700 MHz band being cleared by broadcasters as they transition to digital TV services, Qualcomm must reach private agreements to clear the spectrum prior to the congressionally mandated end to the DTV transition in February 2009. The FCC must OK the deals.
Qualcomm is racing with Crown Castle International Corp.’s Modeo subsidiary to launch a nationwide mobile TV network. Crown Castle is working with Nokia Corp. on a competing network it hopes to launch next year using DVB-H technology.
Crown Castle has yet to announce a carrier customer for its network.
