Reclaiming the 'Vast Wasteland'

Spectrum Series Issue Brief #12 argues that the grossly underutilized spectrum allocated for television broadcasting should be opened for license-exempt sharing with broadband wireless devices. More than 80% of the 400 MHz allocated to television broadcasting is unassigned "white space," which could be efficiently shared by emerging smart technologies, for wireless broadband and other new services, without harmful interference to broadcasters. Wireless broadband entrepreneurs and community networks already are using unlicensed spectrum to bring high-speed wireless Internet access to rural homes, farms and businesses where wired cable and DSL connections are unavailable or unaffordable -- but they need access to more low-frequency spectrum. The paper summarizes the New America Foundation's comments on a pending FCC inquiry concerning the allocation of additional low-frequency spectrum -- and particularly unassigned channels in the 700 MHz band -- for general unlicensed use.

For the complete document, please see the attached PDF version.