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FCC Considers Expanding Unlicensed Spectrum

Syntari writes "Reuters is reporting that the US Federal Communications Commission has begun to seek comment (the first step in promulgating regulations) "on whether unlicensed devices, like wireless home networks for Internet service, could operate on television broadcast airwaves in areas where they are not being used or at times when the spectrum lay fallow". The news release by the FCC itself, in MS-Word format, is online. This is pretty big, as these things go - especially since television spectrum, being of a wavelength that easily penetrates walls and is not overly affected by rain or snow, is ideal for wireless services. Should any slashdotter actually want to submit a comment (gasp! could it be?), read this first (FCC's rules on electronic comment submission), and then go here."

8 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. What about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    What about the waves that alien and government mind control signals are being broadcast on?

  2. Attention Slashdotters by s20451 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please try to avoid sending the FCC your comments such as, "F1RST P05T!!#@!" and "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of unlicensed spectrum". I'm also pretty sure that the FCC is uninterested on what's happening in Soviet Russia.

    --
    Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
  3. Cool by Gabrill · · Score: 2, Funny

    Its about time I was allowed to use the 30+ channels not airing in my local broadcast area.

    --
    Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
  4. Read the articles first?? by goldspider · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Should any slashdotter actually want to submit a comment (gasp! could it be?), read this first (FCC's rules on electronic comment submission), and then go here."

    You MUST be new here, right?

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  5. UHF.COM by Myriad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Put down your web search...
    Throw out your WIRED Mag...
    Put away your CAT5...
    There's no need to go wiring...
    Don't you know that we control the ping...
    We control the pong, too...
    We gonna make a WIFI user out of you...
    That's what we gonna do now...

    Don't change the location bar...
    Don't touch that bookmark...
    We got it all on UHF.COM...
    Kick off your sneakers...
    Stick around for a /.ing...
    We got it all on UHF.COM...
    Don't worry 'bout your pingtimes...
    Forget about your upstream provider...
    Just crank up the shoutcastin' volume...
    And yank off the coax cable...
    We got it all, we got it all, we got it all on UHF.COM...

    Disconnect the phone and leave the modem in the sink...
    You better put away your homework...
    Frag time ain't no time to think...
    All you do is make yourself a cantenna...
    Press your face right up against the screen...
    We gonna show you thangs you ain't ever seen...
    If you know what I mean, now...

    We got it all on UHF.COM...

    --
    "They do not preach that their god will rouse them, a little before the Nuts work loose." Kipling, 'The Sons of Martha'
  6. Blasphemy by Nevermore-Spoon · · Score: 3, Funny

    but think of the possibilities if we merely dropped Gilligan's Island reruns how could you ever even think of taking such drastic measures! If I don't get my daily dose of Mary Ann I simply can't go on.

    --
    I have great faith in fools; My friends call it self-confidence. Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1845
  7. sigh, so much for obscure frequency use by JUSTONEMORELATTE · · Score: 3, Funny

    So now my $8k multi-channel wireless microphone system (UHF 66-68) will be shut down by someone setting up the latest-and-greatest 44Mbps wireless access point, and it's only gonna go to their 256k DSL modem anyway.

    --

  8. Re:Where are Congress' open hands? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    If the FCC is actually able to successfully unlicense this spectrum, just think about the potential for expanded home-brewed WiFi networks. Users could actually begin to successfully challenge the telecom monopolies and get the service we want.

    This could have potentially disastrous consequences! Allowing people unlicensed access to broadcast their speech over the airwaves could destroy the American way of life as we know it! You can't just let Joe Shmoe come along and say whatever they want over the air, it's unheard of. Without a stabilizing force like a large multinational radio conglomerate or a liberal "public" national radio network pulling the strings people could present ideas that go against the mainstream media's views of the world. People would be extremely confused at who to believe when presented with multiple conflicting ideas.