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FCC Petitioned to Restrict 2.4GHz Band
Mean_Nishka writes: "Internet News is reporting that satellite radio provider Sirius is petitioning the FCC to regulate and hinder providers of 802.11b based networks. Sirius claims their radios operate at frequencies only 55mhz lower than wifi's range, and fear that Wifi users could interfere (especially mobile and internet service providers). This could effectively kill free networks nationwide..."
Can't Sirius just start transmitting at a different frequency? Surely it would be easier for one company to hop down the band a bit, than to kill off or change every 802.11 device. The FCC should just reassign Sirius to a new slice of the spectrum.
This is HUGE. Many wireless ISPs already functioning with the 2.4GHz range. Plust free networks are springing up like www.seattlewireless.org and www.houstonwireless.org, there are tons. And you say its no big deal that they will have to scrap their equipment? All of them??
Protocols will not eliminate interference. 5GHz has different transmission properties than 2.4 GHz. It a different frequency. Many WISPs were already bracing for this and expect to have to move into 5GHz, but 5GHz is handled just the same as 2.4 so far. 802.11a is already out there at 5GHz.
If the FCC wants to do somethign they need to give a unlicensed range for specifically data communications only.
Honestly, who gives a damn about satellite radio. More people are using wireless internet that satellite radio.
Yep, this most certainly would effect data networks. Does Sirius not understand the fact that the 2.4 band has been available for public use for years now? You'd think they would have performed interference tests with their equipment from day one, instead of waiting until the last minute. This is ridiculous...Sirius may have invested $3 billion, but what about the rest of us who have already invested significant amounts of money outfitting out sompanies with WiFi. If money matters in this matter, then my money matters too.
--It's Pimptastic!--
Desense with a 500mw transmitter? At 2.4Ghz? The power density at the antenna would hardly be enough to desense the receiver. Further, proper shielding of the antenna feedline and the car body itself should be sufficient to eliminate any harmful radiated power at the receiver front-end.
;) Are you American people (me included) going to let this be another case of the public getting the shaft? Or is it simply another Slashdot moment of catharsis?
This is bunk. Smells as if someone is leveraging Sirius' proximity to the band to force WiFi out of the market. Now - who would want that sort of behavior?
Further, Sirius can mod its gear to deal with the problem. Its a significantly smaller problem to deal with the 2 people who actually bought XM rigs than it is to retro the hundreds of thousands of existing 802.11* units in the field. Further, the public good done by WiFi and community nets significantly outweighs the possibility that some spread will occur over the 55mhz gap and periodically cause Sirius hardware to get some crap packets.
Its obviously another case of "The Man" trying to keep us serfs in check.
Its up to you.
-b-
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the FCC's job is to server the public interest by regulating radio spectrum. So can somebody explain to me how a subscription digital radio service is more in the public interest than wireless data networks? With any luck all the hardware manufacturers will go write their lobbyists some checks and keep the FCC out of this.
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Bandwidth licensing annoys the crap out of me. Not only do us poor wireless schmoes have to use the resonent-frequency-of-water-molecule-so-no-bloody
</rant>
:wq
While nobody paid the government for the frequencies that 802.11, there is a huge amount of business going on it 802.11 equipment. The amount of business thriving off the sale of 802.11 equipment dwarfs what little Sirius has manged to do. Ultimately the FCC doesn't care about the money that comes in from a spectrum sale, it's not like they get to keep it. They care about politics, and what will decide this is who can apply the most political pressure. Can Sirius trump Cisco, Lucent, Intel, and all the other electronics companies making a killing in the 802.11 market? Doubtful.
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The way these things work is that interference of any substantial amount is illegal for all radio operators, including amateurs. You have to prove interference not just wave the possibility around. The FCC has no reason to take any action against 802.11b after allowing this spectrum for this purpose in this first place. Sirius will only gather a lot of ill-will from cluefull would-be customers. Dumb move!
People often raise important concerns on slashdot, and people here are many of those most impacted by a change to FCC rules. So... post your comments somewhere they will make a difference.
g i? native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6512980637
Read Sirius' argument. Think about how they may be exagerating or mistating any problems. Think about how changes would impact you and suggest what should be done to correct any real concerns.
Then give the FCC your input and "file a comment" to the proceeding.
The FCC talks about WIFI and others in terms of where they come in their rules, eg. Part 15 & 18. You can track the proceeding on the FCC's website by looking for Sirius' name, date they filed (Jan 23), that it's "Part 15 & 18", and by the docket number (when it's issued). This is probably something the office of engineering and technology wwould look at. You can also track the proceeding through the website.
In the meantime read the petition Sirius has filed at:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.c