Welcoming the white spaces

FEDERAL REGULATORS have given the go-ahead for the use of currently unlicensed areas of US TV airwaves to deliver better broadband services.

These unused airwaves, known as 'white spaces' will be used to open up the spectrum to allow much better internet access for the US, in particular in rural areas.

The report issued by the FCC outlines new rules which will allow for the use of new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses.

These plans have been backed as promising by companies such as Google, HP and Microsoft which agree that opening this spectrum will allow for much better broadband access.

The new rules for using this unused spectrum represent the first steps in permitting the operation of unlicensed devices and include strong defenses which will protect present services against interference.

Both fixed and portable unlicensed devices will be in use, yet they must include a geo-location capability and provisions to access over the Internet a data base of the present services - this data base will communicate with the white space device in order to tell it which spectrum may be used at that location.

Certain opponents such as TV networks and Broadway producers say that these plans could disrupt their over-air signals.

However this should be overcome as all white space devices are subject to certification by the FCC, ensuring that no unwanted interference occurs.

The Commission will closely oversee and monitor the introduction of the new devices and will act promptly to remove from the market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference. µ