[SCFN] FCC approves unlicensed use of TV whitespace

[Roger Bly]

oops, I meant to say this new whitespace *is* good for WAN.   Even at 100mw,
vhf and uhf are bueno for WAN and even MAN.   Not useful for LAN due to
bandwidth limits, equip cost, and better microwave options like 802.11n.


-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at socalfreenet.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at socalfreenet.org] On Behalf Of Roger Bly
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 11:10 AM
To: 'SoCalFreeNet.org General Discussion List'
Subject: [SCFN] FCC approves unlicensed use of TV whitespace

A big victory!   For several years, many of us have been pushing for TV and
DoD bandwidth to be allocated for unlicensed public use.   Thanks in part to
the recent lobbying power of Google, it is now reality:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/vote-for-broadband-in-white-spaces.ht
ml
http://freetheairwaves.org/
http://www.newamerica.net/programs/wireless_future

It's not 15Gbit and it's not WAN, but it's a healthy start at applying
modern technology to our underutilized spectrum.   I expect approved
consumer devices in +1 year.

The next step is public use and "real time auction" use of dark TV channels
and DoD bandwidth... using similar geo-registered, auto-sensing tech... but
at higher power levels.

Cheers,
Roger Bly