NYC White Spaces Hearing - Panel#2 - 9/29/08

Google ups the Whitespace ANTE

Posted by Johanna Shelton, Policy Counsel and Legislative Strategist on a Google BLOG

" In less than four months, U.S. television broadcasting will switch from analog to digital, a more efficient and higher quality transmission system. At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full power television stations will transition to digital-only broadcasting.

This week, our friends at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) launched a contest on YouTube to help consumers get ready. CEA is inviting YouTube users to create videos that will educate and inform others on how to prepare for the transition. Contest details can be found at http://www.youtube.com/dtvtransition.

Why is the country making this change? More than just better television, digital broadcasting will free up airwaves for emergency responder use and unleash a more open era of mobile communications.

By switching to a more efficient broadcasting system, valuable spectrum can now be used for new wireless services and enhanced public safety communications. The FCC already auctioned some of this spectrum. Google sought to ensure that, regardless of who won the auction, consumers would be able to connect any wireless device and download any application and content of their choosing. The winner of a key block of the spectrum, Verizon Wireless, will now be required to give consumers these historic new rights. The digital TV transition also promises to expand the amount of vacant TV "white spaces" spectrum that we hope is used for unlicensed advanced Wi-Fi-like services.

Before these benefits can be realized, we all have a responsibility to make sure our friends, families and fellow citizens aren't left in the dark when the digital TV transition happens on February 17, 2009"

Shure Whitespace FAQ pdf

As a leading manufacturer of wireless systems for the audio industry, Shure Incorporated is actively involved in the development of policy regarding the use of radio frequency (RF) spectrum throughout the world. In the United States, Shure is engaged in shaping the outcome of the current "white spaces" proposal for future spectrum allocation in order to protect the interests of wireless users.

http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web_us_pro/documents/web_resource/us_pro_pr_ws_2007_faq.pdf

Exactly who is behind Googles grab for whitepsace

Here is an interesting article from FOIH Magazine.
http://www.fohonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1723&Itemid=1

Shure Whitespace FAQ pdf

As a leading manufacturer of wireless systems for the audio industry, Shure Incorporated is actively involved in the development of policy regarding the use of radio frequency (RF) spectrum throughout the world.  In the United States, Shure is engaged in shaping the outcome of the current "white spaces" proposal for future spectrum allocation in order to protect the interests of wireless users.

http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web_us_pro/documents/web_resource/us_pro_pr_ws_2007_faq.pdf

Google moving closer to filling in the white spaces

For more information go to the Google Public Policy Website:

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2008/08/moving-closer-to-filling-in-white.html

Whitespace Update from Shure

NILES. Ill - In response to the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announcement that it will conduct field tests of prototype White Spaces devices, including tests at a sports and an entertainment venue, several large-scale productions and events have offered their locations for these tests.

In a letter dated July 8, Louis Libin, president of Broad-Comm, Inc. and chairman of POLCOMM2008, which coordinates the wireless microphone frequencies during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, wrote, “We believe these conventions would provide a perfect opportunity to conduct further testing regarding the efficacy of these devices. It would provide a real experiment during an event that employs hundreds of wireless microphones and frequencies.”

Daryl Friedman, vice president, Advocacy & Government Relations, for the Recording Academy (NARAS), wrote a letter dated July 17, stating, “We firmly believe that the Commission should move with extreme caution before approving any new portable device operations in the TV Band. We would be happy to help coordinate an FCC visit to the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago on Aug. 1.”

Most recently, Don Lepore, producer of NBC’s hit television show Nashville Star, expressed his concern regarding new devices in the White Spaces and invited the OET to come to Nashville, writing, “To put it in its simplest form, the perception that there is significant fallow ‘white spaces’ in cities like Nashville is just wrong. ’Nashville Star’ wants to extend its expertise and facilities to the Commission as it sets forth to execute the Commission’s testing plans at an entertainment venue.”

The FCC recently began field testing, which is open to the public and will take place over a four-week period with specific dates, times, and locations being updated regularly at www.fcc.gov/oet/projects/tvbanddevice/Welcome.html.


“We’re pleased to see this response from the Recording Academy, POLCOMM, and the producers of Nashville Star, and we hope that the Commission will consider taking them up on their offers,” said Mark Brunner, Shure senior director of Public and Industry Relations. “There simply is no substitute for these types of ‘real world’ scenarios for the OET to conduct its field tests in order to determine what will be required to protect wireless microphones used in
high-profile applications.”

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/PressRoom/WhiteSpaces/index.htm