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FCC Set To Finalize Rules For Next-Gen Wireless

Posted by samzenpus on from the listen-to-the-law dept.

GovTechGuy writes "The FCC's agenda for Thursday includes a vote on the final rules for unlicensed devices making use of unused TV spectrum known as 'white spaces.' Industry and lawmakers have predicted the opening up of the white spaces could result in the biggest leaps forward in wireless technology in the past 25 years. Among the benefits is so-called 'WiFi on Steroids' which allows a large number of users within a 50-mile radius to tap into a single high-speed broadband connection for the same price as a traditional WiFi router. The FCC is expected to approve the move, but Google and other companies warn that the devil is in the technical details of the rules."

6 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. P2P networking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Let's hope these types of changes lead to widespread distributed networking among members of the public.

    I'm tired of having to choose between two or three effective local monopolies for internet access, and still having to put up with bandwidth-to-price ratios that are in the dark ages compared to many other developed nations.

    1. Re:P2P networking by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nope it won't.

      It will be CB radio all over again. 40 channels of everyone trying to talk over everyone else. It will die in obscurity with nobody using it, because they've moved to something else. Think about how many people live in the 50 miles surrounding where you live.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  2. 2008 by markov_chain · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Something similar seemed to be approved in November 2008. Anyone know why it didn't have any impact? As far as I can tell a bunch of tech companies complained that the requirement to listen for existing broadcasters, or looking up a database, was to expensive to implement in devices, and a bunch of existing broadcasters complained about interference. What will be different this time around?

    --
    Tsunami -- You can't bring a good wave down!
    1. Re:2008 by Sepodati · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Go fuck yourself. Why do we have to go through this every time? Not everyone lives on the east coast. Your free TV will not go anywhere.

  3. What open channels? by commodore64_love · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Where I live (the Northeast Megalopolis) there are NO open channels. Every single channel from 2-51 is occupied by a TV station.

    (sigh) I can easily imagine the kid next door turning on his "next gen wireless iPod or iPad" directly over top the Philadelphia or Baltimore sports game I'm trying to watch. Technically the FCC rules say I can order the kid to turn off his gadget, but that doesn't mean he would comply.

    Cellphones currently have 600 megahertz of space.
    TV has 200. Let TV keep its space.

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  4. Truckers by flyingfsck · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Truckers are still using CB, same as always.

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!