WASHINGTON–The Federal Communications Commission hopes to adopt rules next month to start it down a path that will allow unlicensed devices to operate in vacant TV spectrum following the completion of the transition to digital TV in 2009.
The full commission expects to vote on technical rules based on general proposals from 2004 and a set of more detailed technical requirements.
Broadcasters have fought against allowing anyone to use the vacant spectrum, also called white space, while consumer electronics companies and others have been pushing the FCC to complete the rules.
“The record before the FCC does not contain sufficient information to adopt final technical rules for operation of unlicensed devices in the TV bands. Because the proposed rules did not make any specific proposals regarding spectrum sensing, there is no information in the record as to key criteria that would need to be specified to allow the use of that technique, such as the required levels for sensing, spectrum to be scanned, and durations for the sensing,” said the FCC’s Office of Engineering & Technology. “A number of parties have stressed the importance of conducting field tests to ensure that whatever standards are ultimately adopted will protect other radio services against harmful interference. We encourage interested parties to conduct tests and submit them into the record for this proceeding. In the meantime, the FCC Laboratory plans to conduct its own testing program to quantify the interference rejection capabilities of DTV receivers and to assess potential interference from unlicensed devices operating in the TV band.”
The Senate Commerce Committee has consistently signaled its support for using the DTV white spaces for unlicensed operations.
The New America Foundation, a think tank that has led the charge to make the TV white spaces available for unlicensed uses, estimates that between 40 percent and 80 percent of the TV spectrum would not be used once the DTV transition is completed. 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 across the country.
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. Proponents believe that smart radios would ensure the TV white spaces could be used without causing interference to adjacent TV channels; the TV industry disagrees.
The OET timeline is as follows:
- October: The FCC adopts first set of rules and proposes a second set.
- March: FCC Laboratory reports the results of measurements of the interference-rejection capabilities of DTV receivers.
- July: FCC Laboratory reports the results of tests evaluating potential interference from unlicensed devices.
- October 2007: The FCC adopts second set of rules specifying the final technical requirements for unlicensed devices that operate in the TV band.
- December 2007: FCC Laboratory begins accepting applications for certification of unlicensed devices operating in the TV bands; certification will be granted at such time as the application has been reviewed and found to comply with the rules; certification will permit manufacture and shipment of products to distribution points.
- February 2009: Products will be available for retail sale.
“The proposed schedule provides sufficient time to develop appropriate technical standards to prevent interference to TV broadcasting and other services, as well as sufficient lead time for industry to design and produce new unlicensed products that would be available for sale to the public at the completion of the DTV transition,” said OET. RCR
