* More services could mean degraded services
The U.S. is attempting to squeeze as much wireless broadband service as possible over its airwaves. More capacity, more services, more choice – it all sounds good, right? Yet there are possible interference side effects that are as yet unknown.
The Federal Communications Commission recently approved unlicensed use of so-called TV white space (TVWS), the low-frequency spectrum that falls between TV channels. Bigwigs such as Google, Microsoft and Motorola backed the use of TVWS in part for its long reach, which would allow wireless networks to inexpensively reach deep into underserved rural areas.
But traditional TV broadcasters, understandably, are worried about interference with their programming. To appease them, the FCC does require devices operating in TVWS spectrum to include geolocation capabilities and to use an FCC database of TV signals and microphone locations to detect and avoid interference.
Meanwhile, the FCC is considering a Dec. 18 vote on the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS)-3 auction, which stipulates a portion of the spectrum be used for free services. Reportedly, part of the plan now on the table would be to make that spectrum available for unlicensed use if the winning bidder should fail to meet certain network-construction deadlines.
Again, the issue of licensing is important to those with interference worries. One such entity is T-Mobile, which is building its U.S. 3G wireless services in AWS-1 spectrum, adjacent to AWS-3, and has opposed unlicensed use of neighboring channels for service quality’s sake.
Wireless industry veteran Andrew Seybold writes frequently on this topic and berates Washington for lacking adequate wireless technical knowledge about the impact of over-the-air signals crammed too closely together. Seybold often points out that, if at least there is a license holder for the spectrum, there is a single place to go to work on fixing interference problems.
Further, he noted in an October blog that “the FCC has gutted its field offices” and, as such, is no longer aggressive about responding to cases of interference or sending out technicians to check that transmitters are operating within specifications.
