[1st-mile-nm] 700Mhz Spectrum Wireless Devices: Background Paper

[Richard Lowenberg]

Here's the link to the New America Foundation's very good policy
background paper, on new wireless applications and devices, and the vacant
TV spectrum they will utilize, which is to be auctioned off to providers
by the FCC in January.
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www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/unlicensed_broadband_device_technologies

Policy Backgrounder: Unlicensed Broadband Device Technologies

'White Space Device' Operations on the TV Band and the Myth of Harmful
Interference

By Michael Calabrese, Sascha Meinrath, New America Foundation
Dec. 2007

"Smart" wireless devices can use the unassigned frequencies between
broadcast TV channels to offer wireless broadband and other innovative
services. A rulemaking is pending at the FCC (docket 04-186) to permit
unlicensed access to this currently wasted spectrum, subject to technical
requirements that will protect television reception from interference.
Access to the vacant TV channels in each market has been the subject of
intense lobbying, yet far too many of the arguments against "white space"
devices rely upon misinformation about the technologies and the FCC
process that will prevent harmful interference to DTV reception and other
incumbent services.

This policy backgrounder offers a summary analysis, and is an effort to
help policymakers strike the appropriate balance between protecting
existing services from interference while making the benefits of mobile
broadband services available and affordable for all consumers. It provides
policymakers with:

   1. a brief historical background to the current FCC proceedings;
   2. a description of White Space Device (WSD) technologies;
   3. a Myths vs. Facts section addressing the key concerns raised about
WSDs;
   4. an overview of the public benefits of WSDs; and
   5. a concise summary of where we are in the multi-phase process of
adopting WSD technologies for consumer use.


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Richard Lowenberg
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110,  505-603-5200 cell

1st-Mile Institute
New Mexico Broadband Initiative
www.1st-mile.com
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