The technology is ready for smart radios to prevent interference by portable devices for wireless broadband, and in a few years a second phase of the DTV transition should get TV off the air, speakers said Tuesday at a conference held by the New America Foundation and Google at the company's headquarters.

"Take TV off the air" in a few years, said Michael Calabrese, director of the foundation's Wireless Future Program, since 2002 an advocate of opening the TV white spaces. To open all TV spectrum to wireless broadband, over- the-air broadcasts should be replaced entirely by cable, satellite and Internet viewing, he said. All channels should be available by broadband, with the government possibly subsidizing cable and satellite providers to deliver free Lifeline service, Calabrese said...

The New America Foundation is gunning for wireless broadband access in "underutilized government and even commercial bands" by promoting the use of cognitive radio to prevent interference, Michael Calabrese said. "Let smart radios operate around the dinosaurs," he said. This may call for the use of micropayments or "microauctions" for the benefit of licensees, Calabrese said. Kolodny said "the white spaces are going to be at the forefront of showing that these technologies actually work." He cited the upper 700 MHz, AWS-3, BRS, UNII and 3.5 GHz bands as other targets. One project proposes Earth Exploration Satellite Service, which would constantly switch spectrum to allow downloads, he said. LINK (subscription required)

 

 

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