FCC Adjusts Final Rules On Use of Vacant TV Band
By AMY SCHATZ WSJ, August 31, 2010
WASHINGTON — Technology and telecommunications companies could soon get access to unused TV airwaves, allowing them to introduce new wireless gadgets and services, under rules that Federal Communications Commission officials are close to putting into final form.
Some of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's top aides have met with broadcasters and other interested parties in recent weeks to discuss the remaining obstacles to freeing up the vacant spectrum between television channels, known in the industry as "white spaces." The issue could come to a vote as soon as the agency's September meeting. Mr. Genachowski said earlier this year that he wanted the matter resolved by the end of September.
An FCC spokeswoman declined to comment.
The proposal to use "white spaces" to expand wireless Internet and other services has the support of some big tech-industry players, including Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc.
Dell Inc. Chief Executive Michael Dell personally appealed to FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker during a recent trip to Austin, while Microsoft executives showed Mr. Genachowski how they use the TV airwaves for wireless Internet at the company's Redmond, Wash., campus during an Aug. 14 visit.
Microsoft and other high-tech companies want to use the vacant TV airwaves because signals sent on that band of spectrum can travel long distances and move through buildings, which would allow companies to build wireless Internet networks that are stronger than current Wi-Fi hot spots.
The vacant TV airwaves "represent a unique opportunity to spark next-generation broadband networks across the country," said Rick Whitt, Google's telecom and media counsel. "We're very eager for the commission to give the green light to start innovating and building new services on these airwaves."
The FCC agreed almost two years ago to allow these "white space" airwaves to be used for wireless communication services. But the effort stalled as companies waited for regulators to clear up some technical issues and broadcasters sued.
The government leaves a few channels open around existing TV stations to prevent signals from bleeding into each other. Broadcasters and wireless-microphone users worry that use of the vacant TV airwaves will cause interference.
"We're working with the commission to create a viable geo-location database that will protect millions of people relying on over-the-air television as well as our news crews that provide live coverage during emergencies and sporting events," said David Donovan, president of the Association for Maximum Service Television, which represents local TV stations on technical issues.
The FCC's efforts to move forward on vacant TV airwaves comes as some of Mr. Genachowski's allies have begun questioning why the agency is moving slowly on a variety of proposals that have been teed up for action.
The agency's reviews of early termination fees charged by wireless companies, exclusive handset agreements like AT&T Inc.'s deal with Apple Inc. for the iPhone, and possible changes to require telecommunications companies to provide more information on phone-bill charges still aren't completed.
"To the extent that they want to be known as the spectrum FCC, they have a lot of suggestions and proposals out there with very little concrete action," said Harold Feld, legal director at Public Knowledge, a digital-rights interest group.
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