Open Spectrum

...The New America Foundation issued a release Monday taking issue with the broadcasters’ arguments in a paper on the "myths vs. realities" of the white-spaces argument.

The White Spaces Coalition -- a consortium of computer companies that is pushing for the unlicensed devices -- responded to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announcement: “What's at stake here is simple: the promise of greater broadband access for millions of Americans including those in underserved rural areas,” coalition counsel Scott Blake… more

New America Foundation responds to concerns about white space technology interfering with adjacent channels that are used by broadcasters:

Using adjacent channel leakage ratio and similar measures to deal with any interference in adjacent channels will keep white spaces devices from causing harmful interference to TV broadcasts, a coalition led by the New America Foundation told the FCC. The complexity of wideband data waveforms across the CMRS, PCS and now the Advanced Wireless Services bands led to "sophisticated tools," not… more

BEFORE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

In the Matter of Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands, ET Docket No. 04-186

Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHZ and in the 3 GHz Band, ET Docket No. 02-380

REPLY COMMENTS OFNew America Foundation Media Access ProjectCuwin FoundationMichael Marcus, Sc.D., F-IEEEDr. Paul KolodzyDr. Joseph Evans

NAF, et al. again applauds the FCC Office of Engineering… more

We are living through a critical juncture in telecommunications history -- an era where fundamental changes in how we communicate are radically transforming civil society. Broadcast and spectrum regulations are often decades out of date with current technologies and decision-makers are woefully ignorant of the capabilities (or even existence) of better alternatives. Corporations utilize proprietary technologies to capture markets and lock consumers into expensive path dependencies. Telecommunications companies build centralized network architectures for command and… more

After it revealed the results of its “white space” tests at the end of July, the FCC tried to clear up some of its signals, inviting some 50 industry heavies to its suburban Maryland lab and placing its top technology staff on the hot seat to discuss how the prototype white space devices (WSD) caused interference to DTV, cable and licensed wireless audio devices.

With a decision on mobile WSDs expected from the commission in October, broadcasters remain fearful… more

In the late 1980s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted a series of lotteries to allocate electromagnetic spectrum (popularly known as the “public airwaves”) for mobile telephone service. More than 320,000 lottery tickets were acquired by spectrum speculators, including dentists, lawyers, accountants, and anyone else willing to devote the time and hire the legal talent necessary to fill out the complicated form to acquire a lottery ticket. Many of the lottery tickets were purchased as part of partnerships, whose members… more

The Federal Communications Commission appeared poised to reject M2Z Networks Inc.’s plan to offer free nationwide broadband service on the 2155-2175 MHz band, a move likely to prompt a court challenge and refocus the campaign to integrate open access-wholesale requirements in the wireless space.

Once the anticipated dismissal of M2Z’s application happens, the FCC is expected to launch a rulemaking to determine what to do with the 2155-2175 MHz band. The two Democrats on the Republican-controlled FCC were expected to… more

BEFORE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

In the Matter of Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands, ET Docket No. 04-186

Additional Spectrum for Unlicensed Devices Below 900 MHZ and in the 3 GHz Band, ET Docket No. 02-380

REPLY COMMENTS OFNew America Foundation Media Access ProjectCuwin FoundationMichael Marcus, Sc.D., F-IEEEDr. Paul KolodzyDr. Joseph Evans

NAF, et al., applaud the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET)… more

In this report, I analyze the competitive effects of recent proposals to reserve a small portion of the upcoming 700 MHz band auction for wholesale, open-access use.[i] Using this license, a wholesale open-access licensee would build out the wireless network, own and operate the cell sites, towers, and radio equipment, and provide transport to the Internet backbone.

Critics of US spectrum policy will have plenty of ammunition for their howitzers after reading the new working paper (PDF) from J.H. Snider of the New America Foundation. Snider heads up the Wireless Future Program at New America, and his paper offers an inside look at the sometimes-dirty world of spectrum lobbying, which Snider characterizes as responsible for a $480 billion giveaway from the public treasury. The giveaway in question comes after Congress passed… more