Work to Continue on Sensing-Only Devices, Shared Spectrum Says

Shared Spectrum is pleased that the order, posted late Thursday, and statements by commissioners, recognize the “broader value of sensing,” Tenhula said. The company is studying the order closely, “evaluating changes and reasons for rejecting others,” he said. Tenhula’s response was among those from industry executives after they'd taken a closer look.

The outcome is mostly favorable, said Executive Director Rick Harnish of the Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) Association. “The decision to allow unlicensed devices in this spectrum will drive innovation and competition which will result in low cost ubiquitous broadband across the United States,” he said. “Small communities, rural and tribal areas will rapidly be brought into the broadband era, which will stimulate economic development in areas starving for faster Internet and data access.”

Harnish said he’s pleased that the FCC allowed the use of devices that consult a geolocation database to make sure channels are clear and didn’t impose a sensing requirement. “In our view the geolocation database will create a great tool to identify locations” of nonlicensed TV white spaces devices “and eliminate unnecessary interference and costs,” he said. “I was also pleased with the encouragement to further develop spectrum sensing so that it may be used in future spectrum allocations to create efficiencies in the way we use our finite spectrum inventory.” WISPs have used unlicensed spectrum to build out their systems for the past 15 years, Harnish said. “In many cases, this previous unlicensed spectrum allocation has been the only source of broadband in rural sparsely populated areas,” he said. “The FCC decision gives these local operators better tools with which to penetrate foliage and other obstacles allowing easier installation techniques.”

CEA’ praised the order. “It is exciting to see the plans laid out in the National Broadband Plan coming to fruition,” said Vice President Julie Kearney. “Freeing up available spectrum continues to be crucial to our national competitiveness and the future of technology innovation.”

The order includes protections needed for wireless microphone users, said CEO Sandy LaMantia wireless mic maker Shure. The order reserves two TV channels nationwide for wireless mic use and allows organizers of major events to register for protection in the national database. “The reserved channels will provide a safe harbor in which musicians, small theaters, houses of worship, and businesses can operate their wireless microphone systems without interference from new TV Band Devices,” LaMantia said.

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., who represents Nashville, said the order will be helpful to the country music industry. “The live music industry depends more than ever on wireless microphones to connect our artists to the audience,” he said. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., also was supportive: “The FCC Order will enable headliners and performers up and down the Las Vegas Strip to keep delivering their innovative material live for the enjoyment of our tens of millions of guests."

There are challenges for the broadcast industry, said lawyer Scott Flick of Pillsbury, who has TV-station clients. A spectrum database “could be a workable solution if properly implemented,” he said on the firm’s blog, though “the challenges of implementation are immense.” Just making sure the database is accurate will be difficult, Flick said. “Also, signals propagate differently depending on frequency, what part of the country you are in, local terrain, and various other factors, making the database either incredibly complex, or inadequate to address real world circumstances.” TV viewers could find their reception degraded by interference from white spaces devices, he said. “In addition, you have to think that users of those unlicensed devices aren’t going to be too happy when their wireless network won’t function because (unknown to them) it is receiving interference from a TV signal that the database swears isn’t there.”

Flick said the FCC should keep an open mind. Getting the database to work properly is critical, he said. “If some of the FCC’s initial conclusions need to be rethought in order to accomplish that, those discussions will be healthy ones.” Flick said it’s crucial that equipment makers comply with interference protocols from the commission. “Broadcasters are rightly concerned that non-compliant or just poorly designed and manufactured unlicensed devices can cause immense damage, and the FCC lacks the tools to put the genie back in the bottle should that occur,” he said. “Fining such manufacturers after the fact won’t help much if millions of interference-inducing devices are already out there interfering with the public’s ability to watch TV, listen to a sermon, or attend a Broadway show.”