Hundt To Senate: Clear 700-800 MHz Spectrum

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

For those who have heard me talk about this, you will not be surprised by 
my strong endorsement of Reed's  position.

Dave


Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 09:41:21 -0700
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>

Hundt To Senate: Clear 700-800 MHz Spectrum

By Mark Rockwell
April 28, 2004
<http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp? 
layout=newsat2direct&starting=5&pubdate=04/28/04>

 WASHINGTON -- Congress could advance broadband acceptance and use in
the United States dramatically and immediately through wireless
technology without completely re-writing telecom rules, a former FCC
chairman told a Senate panel today.

Reed Hundt, former commission chairman, told members of the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that the commission
could vastly facilitate implementation and acceptance of high-speed
wireless broadband by simply writing a letter to the FCC asking that
the agency re-examine the digital television signal threshold figures
that enables television stations to hang onto spectrum in the UHF
spectrum for analog broadcast. He also said Congress should ask the FCC
to look at secondary use of broadcast spectrum in areas where it is
underused and to issue an order asking that unlicensed devices be
allowed to operate in television broadcast spectrum at locations and
times when the spectrum isn't being used. The commission currently has
an inquiry into secondary use in 700 MHz.

Hundt, now on the boards of several high tech companies, including
Wi-Fi equipment provider Pronto Networks, said those moves would free
more desirable spectrum for immediate use of wireless companies looking
to provide ultra-high-speed broadband services -- operating at up to 10
Mbps -- not traditional "3G" applications. Hundt backs technology and
techniques such as Orthagonal Frequency Division Modulation, beam
forming for antenna reception and IP as wireless services that could
"deliver the bits" in such spectrum.

The former FCC chairman contends that the mandated 85 percent threshold
of digital signal penetration that allows broadcasters to keep analog
UHF spectrum has been crossed, if only the FCC would correctly count
the numbers it already has accumulated. Regulations say broadcasters
can hold onto the analog spectrum until 85 percent of the country has
access to a digital signal. Hundt said that goal has been largely
accomplished and the relatively small number of citizens who don't have
the ability to access the signal and can't afford a digital device
could easily be subsidized in the purchase of "set-top boxes."

Freeing up that spectrum in the 700 - 800 MHz band would provide cheap
widely available means to deliver high-speed wireless services, said
Hundt, in much the same way it did for broadcasters when it was granted
to them decades ago.

Hundt said if the coveted broadcast spectrum could be freed up, and the
FCC enforced its rules, wireless broadband could go a long way in
bringing the United States in line with other countries with superior
broadband penetration.


Archives at: <http://Wireless.Com/Dewayne-Net>
Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>

-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com
To manage your subscription, go to
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/