FCC – white space database expecting new devices

7th December, 2009 by adina
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FCC has recently approved the creation of a white space frequencies database in order to accelerate white space data access. Information about which frequencies are being used by existing TV networks will be collected and processed by a third party, showing this way which of the unused frequencies could be assigned to be used by wide-area networks. The database, that is privately run, could charge the access to limited resources such as registering hardware that is running at a fixed frequency or getting pre-made lists of frequencies that are available. Such devices that are recognizing white space access would need a certain form of geolocation through GPS or triangulation of wireless signals to get access to the database and to be able to automatically detect available frequencies to use in a certain area.

Technology companies like Microsoft and Google have heavily promoted products and services running on white space bands although these ones are still considered distant. Many of these companies consider this technology useful for long-range Internet access using frequencies that cannot be licensed and controlled tightly by a carrier. TV broadcasters and other providers say they are concerned that this system would interfere with TV and with public safety systems as well, but they actually fear that the Internet-based services would throw over-the-air TV out of business.

The FCC has concluded that white space devices would in no case create interference through testing that was performed after the last year’s approval.


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