White Space Spectrum

[Bob Jonkman]

And a podcast on White Space Spectrum from Future Tense:

http://www.publicradio.org/columns/futuretense/2008/11/on-the-cusp-of.html


November 7, 2008
On the cusp of a new wireless revolution?

MP3 - iTunes

The Federal Communications Commission this week decided to free up the little-used 
"white space" spectrum between television channels. That spectrum slice will no 
longer be needed when the U.S. ditches analog TV broadcasts early next year.

Backers of the move believe it could usher in the age of a faster, universal 
wireless Internet. Broadcasters and mobile phone carriers have opposed the move, 
arguing new devices running in the white space could cause interference.

Guest: Stacey Higginbotham, GigaOm




On 9 Nov 2008 at 23:25, Bob Jonkman wrote:

>Simply explained:  White Space
>
>http://geekandpoke.typepad.com/geekandpoke/2008/11/simply-explained---part-21.html
>
>
>
>On 8 Nov 2008 at 12:19, Brent wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>Victor Mendonça wrote:
>>> Do you think that by the fact that we are behind on migrating from
>>> analog to digital that it might interfere on when we'll start
>>> seeing these devices around here? 
>>>
>>> I've read a couple of articles claiming that "White Space" devices
>>> might start appearing beginning of 2009 (see link bellow). I would
>>> think that it will be hard to keep them from coming over the
>>> border.
>>> 
>>>
>>> http://www.betanews.com/article/White_space_devices_might_appear_in
>>> _ 2009_if_FCC_directive_is_clear/1224190240
>>>
>>>
>>>   
>>Get your hats out boys and girls,
>>
>>this is just tailor made for the Canadian scene. There is no mandated
>>switch to digital TV in Canada as the Canadian government is giving
>>the broadcast industry time to roll out new "business models". They
>>will bring out their fully digital TV just as soon as they have
>>everyone trained to buy or lease "locked" receivers (very much like
>>the cell phone providers, yes?) that give them a captive market. You
>>want the service? Buy the box, OK? Oh, you want choice? Buy another
>>box. Pretty good argument from their stand point. There is
>>competition out there, you just have to pay for it. Imagine that,
>>paying for competition....what a concept.
>>
>>The new copyright legislation, when it is re-introduced, will use
>>that same "business model" argument to justify the "technological
>>measures" provisions. I was invited to a round table discussion with
>>local MP Mike Lake just before the election call.  After much
>>grilling about music downloads, streaming, advances in digital
>>technology (vis vis format shifting, media servers and online content
>>storage), and locked cellphones all MP Lake could do was parrot the
>>need for new "business models" for the holders of copyright. (He also
>>repeated, I actually lost count of how many times, the assertion that
>>the proposed act was balanced with respect to fair use.)
>>
>>You may very well be able to import white space devices from the US
>>in the two year intervening period but my guess is that if you try to
>>use them you may be subject to charges of interfering with the
>>broadcast signal of a local TV provider and you will most definitely
>>run afoul of some budding entrepreneur who has (locked)  toys of his
>>own to peddle in the "free" market.
>>
>>The only thing free about our market is the freedom of vendors and
>>suppliers to flog proprietary devices and content to consumers who
>>have no choice what so ever.
>>
>>Got any extra foil Rene, perhaps some of the heavy duty kind? I feel
>>a need.
>>
>>Bremt

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