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FCC: Should broadcasters give up spectrum for wireless?
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Following weeks of comments on the matter, the FCC is now seeking official public comment on how TV broadcasters use their current spectrum holdings, and whether they should give up some spectrum for wireless broadband use.
The notice, part of the commission's efforts to develop a national broadband plan, is sure to draw a range of comments from both sides of the debate; wireless carriers have been clamoring for more spectrum while broadcasters argue they need to hold on to their exiting airwaves. Comments are due Dec. 21.
Reallocating spectrum from broadcasters for wireless broadband services is an idea FCC officials have repeatedly floated. Indeed, Blair Levin, who heads the taskforce charged with developing the commission's national broadband plan, earlier this week seemed to signal that such a notice would be forthcoming.
"It is a bit of a mystery to me why we can't explore the idea that broadcasters might want to sell their spectrum, and that we have to close that dialogue down," he said Tuesday at a panel sponsored by the Progress & Freedom Foundation think tank. Both Levin and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski--echoing wireless players--have repeatedly said that the United States will need more spectrum to expand the reach of broadband services.
Not surprisingly, the broadcasters' lobby is opposed to the idea. "Broadcasters believe we can help the FCC accomplish its mission without stifling growth opportunities of free and local TV stations and the millions of viewers that we serve," Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, told Bloomberg.
For more:
- see this Bloomberg article
- see this Washington Post article
- see this FCC filing
- see this Nextgov article
Related Articles:
CTIA, broadcasters wrangle over spectrum
Broadcasters wary of FCC spectrum plans
FCC may auction more broadcast spectrum for wireless
CTIA, carriers urge FCC to open up more spectrum
More stories about Julius Genachowski FCC Blair Levin wireless spectrum Wireless Carriers Wireless Broadband
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | December 3, 2009 - 2:24pm
Simple answer is no. Until we have a program like Finland where everyone is guarranteed access to 1MBit DSL, no. The TV is still a form of communication, albeit one way. We can go to IP based TV once such an option becomes available as to not exclude anyone from recieving the basic broadcasts.
Posted by Anonymous | December 3, 2009 - 8:36pm
No... not while companies like Verizon sit on existing Pcs licenses with no plans of ever building them out. They do this to limit competition. They also can add capacity by simply building more site around their existing network. Go to asia or europe and you will see how far we really are behind... it is because AT&T and Sprint have not built more than a handful of sites in the last three years and because of that Verizon and T-Mobile only have to build a few to stay ahead. It's a joke and so is the CTIA.... they should be working harder to make sure the carriers build out the entire US. Go 25 minutes north of scranton PA and leave a highway,,, can you hear me now? Nope.
Posted by Anonymous | December 4, 2009 - 10:14am
I agree with the previous comment. The CTIA is nothing but a lobbyist group for the Wireless Telecommunication Industry. The FCC needs to use its considerable power to force the big boys into expanding coverage, not just touting future expansion and doing nothing. All carriers are guilty of this.
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