FCC to test "white spaces" devices again

After last year's rather crushing blow to the so-called White Spaces Coalition (now known as the Wireless Innovation Alliance) -- when the FCC gave failing marks to a potentially-defective Microsoft-built device (pictured above) designed to receive wireless broadband transmissions over gaps in the broadcast spectrum -- the agency has now confirmed that it is ready to re-evaluate a second round of devices from Redmond, Motorola, Philips, and startup Adaptrum Inc. Should these devices prove resistant to interference over the three month testing period, the coalition plans to release commercial products to coincide with the digital TV transition in 2009, with a spokesman for the group lauding the FCC-set timeline as "reasonable."

[Via Slashdot]

[mushrooshi @ Jan 21st 2008 5:25AM]

Why does "White Spaces Coahlition" sound like a futuristic KKK?

[Oinquer @ Jan 21st 2008 6:05AM]

ok good one there =P

[OneLove @ Jan 21st 2008 10:02AM]

Don't mess with the brotherhood.

[Jon Doe @ Jan 21st 2008 11:36AM]

*kicks the "brotherhood" in the nuts.*

[Shane @ Jan 21st 2008 11:19AM]

This is a BAD idea. So called "White Space" is there in the frequency spectrum for a reason...To protect licensed services. We already have a situation where the 2.4 Ghz band is being overcrowded by unlicensed devices trying to share the same chunk of spectrum (despite frequency hopping spread spectrum technology).

The FM broadcast band is crowded even by LICENSED broadcasters! Just because you can't hear a station on the band somewhere (regardless of if the band is AM, FM or TV) doesn't mean there isn't one...The receiver may not be sensitive or selective enough to pick up the station it is scanning.

I know this technology was intended for use on the TV bands but I shudder to think if it becomes commonplace and starts using other "white space" in various other chunks of spectrum...

This is just as bad (if not worse) than the concept of Broadband over Power Lines in terms of the interference and havok it will cause.

[jason @ Jan 21st 2008 4:50PM]

Are they talking about home devices or long range devices? If these whitespace devices are the next generation of wireless routers then where is the harm in me using that unused space to ironically stream media to my TV?