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FCC Approves Unlicensed Use of White-Space Spectrum
sidesh0w was one of a number of readers to alert us to the FCC's unanimous decision approving unlicensed devices to use the white spaces of the spectrum unused by television broadcasters, provided they take certain precautions not to interfere with licensed users. "Denying a tremendous last-minute lobbying effort by broadcasters, the vote on white space devices went ahead as planned today after a several-hour delay at FCC headquarters. When the vote came, though, it was unanimous. For the Democrats on the Commission, the devices are appealing because they offer a potential new avenue for broadband services, while the Republicans are pleased for the same reasons, but love the fact that this is a deregulatory order that focuses on less regulation and more competition."
I can't wait to have my cordless phone screw up my TV signal! Wee!
Your new phone won't interfere with your TV, as your TV does not use this spectrum. Your new phone will only interfere with other devices currently using this band. It's no different than your 2.4GHz phone interfering with your WiFi today.
The reason this is such a "fun" decision is that a large number of wireless microphones (used by entertainers, churches, actors in theatres, musicians, etc.) have been illegally occupying this spectrum for many years. That's right, they've been squatting spectrum that they should not have been using, and when this announcement came out all these "performers" started whining that they'd have to buy something else.
I think this is the ideal punishment for those lawbreakers: too freakin' bad, you should have been purchasing and licensing COMPLIANT equipment all along, morons! Now you get to pay for it twice! It makes me happy.
John
... I, for one, welcome our multi-frequency overlords. But seriously, fractal antennas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_antenna ) and golomb rulers ( http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/26/0037258 ) just got even more important. And I will of course be happy to assist them in finding handsets to toil in their data mines.
If you have ever had to deal with RF interference as a primary duty for your job, you'd feel even more hostile than the previous poster.
Pretty much no doubt the NAB is going to sue over this, right?