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Written by FNN contributor
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Sunday, 05 July 2009 17:49 |
 I've been looking at how spectrum can be more efficiently used, some likely to be soon proposed at the FCC. Some ideas:
- The most obvious is persuading other parts of government to free up some space they aren't using, which is quietly underway.
- The FCC Technical Advisory Committee years ago enthusiastically recommended allowing “cognitive radio” or “software-defined radio” that tests the spectrum before transmitting. That will be a battle, but I'm told Jules has the courage for this, amid nearly universal support from technologists.
- Expand “white spaces” to other frequencies as well. The FCC is creating a “TV Bands Database” to authorize access to vacant TV channels on a market-by-market basis. Mike Calabrese points out “There is no reason to limit the functionality of the TV Bands Database to the TV band frequencies. If a potentially useful frequency band is not being used at particular locations (e.g., in New York City but not in West Virginia,)” make it available to others. In those bands, use “GPS and the capability to periodically check an online database of available TV channel frequencies in that discrete geographic location. TV band white space devices (WSDs) will be required to query a national database to determine available channels at their current location before transmit capabilities are engaged.”
- Use femtocells, as AT&T plans, to effectively double their spectrum capacity.
- Take seriously and enforce at renewal Jonathan Adelstein’s “Use It or Lose It” rule. Few in D.C. realize that wireless licenses are not automatically renewed, clear from reading some. The rules can easily be changed if the FCC chooses. They could require covering 95-99% of the territory at a minimum speed and quality. Make capacity part of the buildout requirements. Or the U.S. can follow the lead of Canada and India and require a percent of revenues from the licensee, using the money for true universal services. (Blasphemy, but the right thing to do.)
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