So
to start the chaos of hashing out the new white space landscape on a high note, we do want to make time
to note Dolly Parton who wrote to the FCC to express concern over their
vote:
| As someone who uses the white spaces and knows the value of them
for the work that I and many of my friends do around the
country, I ask the FCC to recognize
the entertainment industry's valuable contribution to the cultural life and
economy of this country. If the FCC ignores the value provided by current users
of the white spaces, the potential direct negative impact on countless people
may be immeasurable. |
Read the full letter here.
But despite this classy note from a classy performer, the FCC proceeded to adopt
changes (enumerated in their latest
report & order) to the way wireless devices can use the
unused television channel frequencies (often referred to as the aforementioned
"white space") that wireless microphones and other devices operate
over. Unlicensed wireless devices will be required to be equipped with spectrum
sensing, geo-location, and the ability to access a database over the Internet to
make sure that the frequencies on which it is operating won't cause
interference. Some room has been left open around TV channel 37 in major
markets.
So you may be thinking that sounds pretty dire and awfully restrictive for the
film and television industry and will require a heck of a lot of time and money
to sort out. But, hey, why panic when you can party? So read the next item and
cheer up.
