Driving Wireless Broadband and Innovation

When the transition to digital TV is completed in February 2009, broadcasters will retain channels 2 to 51, but will actually be using less than half of that spectrum to broadcast over-the-air DTV signals. Local TV stations will be separated by empty channels, known as “white space” — underutilized spectrum that new “smart radio” technologies can use for productive activities, including wireless broadband, without interfering with television reception. DARPA and other wireless innovators have already developed far more advanced systems that can detect unoccupied frequencies across the spectrum and operate in these white spaces without disturbing licensed services.

If the FCC opens up unused spectrum white space for unlicensed access — just as devices like garage door openers, baby monitors, and home wi-fi devices can do now — the result would be a proliferation of technological innovation, including new broadband wireless applications. Yet broadcasters seek to lock up this unused spectrum and in so doing, seek to limit innovation and consumer choice. Pending legislation in Congress would require the FCC to allocate this unused spectrum to unlicensed, “open innovation” uses.

Video of this event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.

Attachments

• MP3 Audio Recording of this Event

Location

2322 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC, 20515

See map: Google Maps

Participants

• The Hon. Jay Inslee (D-WA)
  U.S. House of Representatives
• Peter Tenhula
  Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Business Development
  Shared Spectrum
• Pierre de Vries
  Research Fellow, Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
  University of Washington
• Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
  President
  Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
• Michael Calabrese
  Vice President & Director, Wireless Future Program
  New America Foundation