White Space Devices & The Battle Over Innovation:
Policy Paper
June 19, 2008
I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of a “White Space Device.” And yet, white space devices have the potential to be one of the most revolutionary new technologies to come along in the past twenty years. White space devices will have a greater positive impact than Wi-Fi and spur far more innovation than mobile phones. And yet, the trade press and inside-the-beltway media have been inundated by a massive PR campaign, and congressional offices have been swarmed by hundreds of lobbyists, all claiming that white space devices will destroy television broadcasting and make wireless microphones inoperable. Why then, has a large and growing coalition of public interest and consumer groups (including the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers' Union – who publish “Consumer Reports,” EDUCAUSE – which represents institutions of higher learning, Common Cause, National Hispanic Media Coalition – which advocates for "media and telecommunications policies that benefit the Latino community,” New America Foundation, Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Prometheus Radio Project, and U.S. PIRG) teamed up with a growing number of high-tech companies (including Google, Dell, HP, Motorola, and Microsoft) to support white space devices? If consumers and businesses that are innovating new technologies are fighting for these devices, who's funding the lobbying and PR against them? And what does this all have to do with the arts and cultural community?
I first joined NAMAC over half-a-decade ago and have been actively organizing community media and the arts for quite some time. I co-founded the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) in 2000, created the UCIMC's all-ages arts and performance venue in 2002, took part in the “Community Engagement Through Media Salon” that NAMAC held in 2004, and have coordinated countless community media and arts projects over the years. I mention this because when I talk about the enormous benefits that white space devices hold for cultural venues, I do so as someone who wants to see them available both for use by the general media and arts community and by the organizations and projects that I help lead.
Recently, I have read talking points created specifically to mislead arts and cultural organizations and so-called “facts sheets” that no one wants to put their name behind because they're so completely ridiculous and full of misinformation. As a practitioner, I felt it was important to provide information and resources to counter the fear, uncertainty and doubt that is being manufactured by the opponents of white space devices. Public interest groups like the New America Foundation may not have the PR funding and lobbying power of the National Association of Broadcasters or Shure Microphones; but, we do have venues like this one to get the truth out about what white space devices are and the benefits they provide to arts and cultural organizations.
For the full document, please see the PDF attached below.