Broadcasters Fighting Mad Over White Space

March 5, 2009

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For something with a name that indicates nothing, “White space” sure does have a few folks upset.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Association for Maximum Service Television (AMST) have initiated action in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in hopes of overturning the November 2008 FCC ruling allowing Google and others to use white space for commercial purposes.

White space is a chunk of unused airwaves which resides between broadcast TV spectrums. It was created nearly 50 years ago when TV was first invented in order to provide a buffer zone from stray signals and other interference.

White space has been the subject of intense debate for many years but in particular over the past 6 years its usage has been argued for and against with fierce passion. Advocates of making white space available (such as Google, Microsoft and Motorola) claim that its unlicensed use would stimulate an evolution in WiFi systems which have greater scope than what is available today. Opponents (broadcasters, wireless microphone companies, sports teams and many telecoms) claim its usage will create harmful interference with TV signals.

Despite tests and conditions placed on white-space usage by the FCC, the NAB and the AMST continue to insist that use of white space spectrum would cause extreme complications by interfering with TV signals and furthermore claim that the FCC decision was “arbitrary, capricious and otherwise not in accordance with law.” However, they did not elaborate on what specifically makes the FCC decision illegal.

For some, change is never a good thing. If used as mandated, white space poses very little threat to digital television broadcasts. One thing is for sure, the FCC has a fight on its hands from litigious broadcasters. Perhaps the new White House will need to weigh in on the dispute over white space.

Written by Todd · Filed Under Business, WiFi