Motorola Files Proposal at FCC for Opening Broadcast White Spaces
Motorola, attempting to find “middle ground” in the battle between high-tech companies and broadcasters over the broadcast white spaces, gave the FCC a white paper arguing that the agency should set separate rules for high-power and low-power devices to operate in the band. Motorola also plans to submit a device to the FCC for testing when the Office of Engineering and Technology starts a new round of testing in coming weeks, it said.
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The Motorola proposal would allow wireless ISPs to broadcast at high power to both mobile and fixed users in rural areas, and allow consumers to set up in-home networks using low-power devices, Steve Sharkey, senior director of spectrum and standards strategy at Motorola, told us Friday. “The attempt is to provide further guidance on what we think the right way forward is here,” Sharkey said. “We think use of TV white space is possible and is a good thing and should be pursued.” Motorola generally isn’t at odds with high-tech companies that want the white spaces opened for unlicensed use, Sharkey said. “Where we have some differences is how best to protect the incumbent services,” he said. “At the high level we do agree. We think it will be feasible to do geo-location within a device with very low cost.”
Under the Motorola proposal, high power devices would be required to register to be part of a database to be maintained by a third-party provider. All the devices would have to be able to sense whether the spectrum they would use is occupied. Motorola also proposes that all white spaces devices be able to detect “beacons” transmitting a warning the spectrum is occupied. For example, organizers could use beacons to protect wireless microphones at a concert.
“This multi-tiered approach allows the type of high power devices that are necessary when deploying broadband to rural areas, commercial, enterprise or other services covering large geographic areas, while also facilitating use of lower powered devices that will satisfy the need for limited range consumer devices typically deployed in homes and requiring much more limited coverage,” Motorola said. “While regulatory requirements for all devices must be based on the need to protect authorized users, Motorola believes that the requirements for the two classes of devices should be different based on the potential of the devices to cause inference, and the likely uses for each class of device.”
Broadcasters and the White Spaces Coalition questioned whether Motorola had found a compromise. “This is a position Motorola has taken all along,” said Ed Thomas, former OET chief who represents the White Spaces Coalition. “There is absolutely nothing new in the Motorola position and we still disagree with them. Motorola at one time filed doubting the feasibility of over-the-air sensing.”
David Donovan, president of the Association for Maximum Service TV, said Motorola opposes use of low-power devices in channels 14 to 20, which broadcasters share with land mobile and public safety entities. “Motorola supplies much of the equipment that operates on these channels,” Donovan said. “Whatever the merits of this plan, it is interesting that Motorola appears to be concerned about low power unlicensed consumer devices interfering with its equipment… while at the same time it is willing to take the risk with interference to consumer’s DTV sets.” -- Howard Buskirk
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Four more House members expressed concerns about FCC analysis of white spaces tests that have been completed thus far, NAB said. The lawmakers are Tom Tancredo, R- Colo., Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Maine Democrats Tom Allen and Michael Michaud.