Kerry bill to speed TV white space use

WASHINGTON-Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced a bill aimed at increasing broadband access by unlocking unused TV spectrum-called white spaces-for Wi-Fi.
“At a time when the U.S. is lagging behind much of the world in broadband penetration-and more than 60 percent of the country does not subscribe to broadband service primarily because it is either unavailable or unaffordable-this legislation would put this country one step closer to achieving ubiquitous broadband Internet access throughout America,” Kerry said.
The Wireless Innovation Act of 2007, a replica of legislation backed by Kerry last year, would require the Federal Communications Commission to allow license-free use of unassigned broadcast spectrum between the 54 MHz and 698 MHz band within six months after the legislation is enacted.
The FCC last October took steps to unleash white space-spectrum historically designed to protect TV transmissions from interference-but the agency left unsettled whether vacant broadcast frequencies would be made available on an unlicensed or licensed basis.
“This administration has pledged ubiquitous broadband access by 2007, but has taken few concrete actions to achieve that goal,” Kerry stated. “On the contrary, the Federal Communications Commission seems intent to inexplicably drag its feet on this measure-despite broad bipartisan support in the Congress, as indicated by the Senate Commerce Committee’s unanimous acceptance of a similar measure last year.
Kerry, a Senate Commerce Committee member, said he would seek bipartisan support for the measure and push for immediate passage of it.
Another committee member, Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) yesterday said he is drafting virtually identical white space legislation.