Microsoft Research has found a way to tap white spaces in the spectrum that were previously used by analogue TV broadcasts. WiFi-NC would bundle together narrow channels to provide wireless transmissions at top speeds. Microsoft is hoping to set the new Wi-Fi network standard, but will Congress approve?
Submitted by Ms. Smith on Mon, 01/09/12 - 7:38pm.
Once upon a time, Microsoft had applied to the FCC to become an approved white spaces administrator. Read more
A conference session yesterday led me (and I think most in the audience) to the conclusion that applications for the White Spaces are real, and markets should develop – although one big potential showstopper remains on the horizon. But their real value regardless is in influencing future spectrum policy and allocations going forward.
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Fri, 12/02/11 - 7:58pm.
My session on Commercializing the White Spaces yesterday at the Wireless Innovation Forum's SDR'11-WinnComm conference was very well received. We had a great panel and packed a lot of information into just 40 minutes. The bottom line here is that there really are applications for White Spaces radios. Read more
Will the White Spaces find their niche? We’ll answer that question this Thursday at the Wireless Innovation Forum’s conference in Washington, DC.
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Mon, 11/28/11 - 8:07am.
I've written quite a bit about the White Spaces, but most of that has been about the technology and the regulatory environment. Read more
The FCC has issued what will hopefully be the final word on White Spaces regulations, but what's all this nonsense about Super WiFi?
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Thu, 09/23/10 - 7:13pm.
As expected, the FCC today voted to approve revised regulations regarding the so-called TV White Spaces, unused TV channels that are available for unlicensed use. Since I've written extensively on this before, the most important element for me was the elimination of the requirement for spectral sensing, which I've argued is of little use and ultimately could be a huge drag on the market. Read more
As is so often the case, seeing the future is usually difficult or impossible as a journey begins. But hindsight is terrific - and, if we re-invented the spectrum-allocation process today, even in a few bands, all this nonsense about a shortage of radio spectrum would evaporate. Our latest White Paper has the solutions.
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Sun, 09/12/10 - 6:04pm.
Radio, as I've often noted, is a technology that can trace its roots back to Marconi, Tesla, Maxwell, Faraday, and even Benjamin Franklin and his kite. In the hundred-plus years of production deployments, we've seen the predictable crowding of the spectrum as the original what-are-we-going-to-do-with-all-this-spectrum?/land-rush mentality of the early days came face-to-face with the reality of at least local over-subscription in some bands as the technology improved, costs declined, and application demand, particularly, in recent years, for mobile broadband, snowballed. Read more
We should have more spectrum available soon - unless $600 is worth more than billions (and it may be)
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Fri, 06/18/10 - 10:32am.
I had the privilege this week of speaking at the TV White Spaces Summit, sponsored by the Wireless Innovation Forum, which is the new name of the trade association formerly known as the Software Defined Radio Forum. Read more
Or why your To-Do list will keep getting longer...
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Thu, 05/06/10 - 3:20pm.
I spent most of the Interop 2010 conference attending sessions in my part of the event, the Mobile Business track. I must say that I was really impressed with this year's speakers; there is a lot going on, perhaps because of all the pent-up demand coming out of such a severe recession, perhaps because wireless and mobile technologies continue to evolve and improve at such a rapid rate, and perhaps because that's the way it's always been, at least in my almost-20 years in the field. Read more
The FCC may authorize several white spaces database providers
Submitted by Source Seeker on Tue, 01/05/10 - 7:48pm.
Google has thrown its name in the hat to become an administrator of white spaces databases. This is a reversal for Google, which officially said in February 2009, that it did not plan to be an administrator. However the company told me last month that it was considering the idea. Read more
Google promises to take its vocal support of white spaces international, but will it play a role in the service?
Submitted by Source Seeker on Fri, 12/04/09 - 8:56pm.
Google could get left in the dark with white spaces, after it fought so vocally to get white spaces approved. Read more
First ever public white spaces broadband network is alive in Virginia -- like WiFi on steroids.
Submitted by Microsoft Subnet on Wed, 10/21/09 - 4:23pm.
The first public white spaces network officially launched on Wednesday in Claudville, Virginia. It uses sensing technology from Spectrum Bridge with software and Web cams supplied by Microsoft and PCs supplied by Dell. The project was funded by the TDF Foundation. Read more
Submitted by Microsoft Subnet on Wed, 11/05/08 - 11:49am.
The battle lines between device makers are already starting to be drawn. Motorola's congratulatory statement also included some marketing positioning. Motorola has declared itself a leader in some of the technology that will be used by the devices: Read more
Submitted by Source Seeker on Wed, 11/05/08 - 10:43am.
As expected, the FCC voted unanimously yesterday to allow use of so-called "white spaces" spectrum, opening up what promises to be a vibrant marketplace for broadband wireless devices. Could new feature-rich devices from proponents Google, Microsoft and Motorola be far behind? Read more
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Wed, 11/05/08 - 10:30am.
I must begin today with offering my congratulations to our soon-to-be President, Senator Barack Obama. As a reforming political junkie (I was active in local politics for many years, and last night had the privilege of being part of our local cable-access election coverage programming, and, yes, I even won an election once myself), I don't get nearly as excited about political goings-on as I used to. But the fact that we're very clearly moving beyond the traumas that have occupied so much of our time in recent years is indeed exciting. Read more
Submitted by Microsoft Subnet on Tue, 10/28/08 - 3:04pm.
As Nov. 4 nears, Microsoft and consumer groups find themselves on the same side, both arguing that White Spaces would be good for consumers, help reduce the digital divide and spur economic growth in an emerging area -- mobile entertainment. Read more
Submitted by John Cox on Fri, 07/11/08 - 3:18pm.
Next week, the FCC will launch a second test, this time in the field, of prototype wireless devices that run in the “white spaces” of the unlicensed television broadcast band.
And through an FCC filing, the NFL and ESPN invited the commission to test these white space devices (WSDs) in football fields: during 2008-09 games at the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium and the Washington Redskins’ FedExField in Landover, Maryland. Read more
Submitted by Craig Mathias on Thu, 04/17/08 - 7:59pm.
Do you remember the analog television channel numbers? They were 2-13 for VHF and, back when the broadcasters were the most powerful lobby at the FCC, 14-83 were reserved on UHF. I assume that policy makers actually thought there might eventually be 82 channels operating in some metro areas, but such just wasn't economically viable, any more than having 500+ channels on cable makes sense today. But, regardless, frequencies were allocated and there were lots of broadcast stations operating. What's left of these stations are moving to new channels where they will broadcast only digital signals starting next February. And, yes, there once was a channel 1, but it was re-farmed out of existence in 1945. Read more
Submitted by Microsoft Subnet on Tue, 02/12/08 - 1:57pm.
Another chapter has been written in the story of White Spaces vs. the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), reports PC Magazine. On Jan. Read more
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/24/2007 - 10:34am
Score another one for the White Spaces group! If you are pro "technology innovation" and anti "Good 'old boys" then you should be rooting for White Spaces. If you haven't been following this rather fun and juicy battle, the last word was that the GOB are not just going to claim the technology is dangerous to your TV signals (which the last test seemed to show that it was) but are going to try and fight this in the arena of public FUD, with a TV commercial strategy.
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Submitted by Microsoft Subnet on Wed, 09/12/07 - 2:47pm.
This is a fun story that says volumes about the psychological difference between the lords of today's technology -- Microsoft, Google, Intel -- and the lord's of yesterday's hot technology -- the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
NAB and the Association for Maximum Service Television's (MSTV) are launching a new advertising campaign intended to create FUD over the pursuit of unlicensed T.V. spectrum - called "white spaces." Microsoft, Google, Dell and Intel want the FCC to open white spaces to both licensed and unlicensed wireless devices and services. This would allow those spaces to be used for all kind of nifty new wireless devices. Read more
