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FCC backs off talk of forcefully reclaiming spectrum from TV broadcasters
By Chris Ziegler
Rest easy, broadcasters: your hard-earned spectrum is safe, at least for the moment. The FCC's full-court press to round up additional spectrum for wireless broadband services had led it to suggest reclaiming some spectrum from broadcasters in recent months -- a move that would arguably make sense considering the ever-shrinking importance of over-the-air television and the availability of more efficient broadcast methods -- but was met with considerable resistance from the broadcast industry, ultimately leading it to back off the message this week. The Fed's director of scenario planning for its broadband task force has gone on record saying the commission had never seriously considered implementing such a plan, instead looking at "a scenario that establishes a voluntary marketplace mechanism so that broadcast TV stations have a choice in how they want to use their spectrum." In other words, sell it if you want, keep it if you want -- and in all likelihood, the FCC would be looking to repurpose any offloaded frequencies for broadband. Of course, this kind of plan could leave the country with a fragmented system of spectrum slots where individual stations have elected to sell part or all of their airwaves, not really an optimal solution when some estimates have us needing to clear several hundred additional megahertz to keep up with data demand over the next few years -- but it's a start.
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FCC Axes Plan to Take Spectrum From Broadcasters
By Maisie Ramsay
The FCC has stepped back from a proposal to reclaim spectrum from television broadcasters to use for wireless broadband services, according to an agency executive. The proposal was met with heavy opposition from broadcasters who argued it would limit the potential of digital broadcasting.
“The preference is to establish voluntary, market-based options to enable broadcasters who chose to do so to relinquish their spectrum and receive compensation,” said Phil Bellaria, director of scenario planning for the FCC's National Broadband Task Force.
Instead of forcing broadcasters to give up their spectrum, the FCC plans to make the option to sell spectrum holdings voluntary for the time being.
The FCC is also considering several other measures, including using DTS transmitters to more efficiently re-engineer broadcast network architecture; repacking station allotments; and auctioning overlay licenses as was done in the mid-1990’s.
However, Bellaria said the FCC would have to reconsider the issue if its voluntary proposals failed in Congress or did not garner the needed amount of spectrum.
“Both these options, along with the more heavy-handed mandatory option, are within the authority of the FCC but would take longer time to market,” Bellaria said.
In response to the news of the FCC’s softened approach to reallocating broadcast spectrum, CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent urged the agency to move aggressively to free up the airwaves for wireless broadband.
"The record overwhelmingly demonstrates there's a need for additional spectrum for mobile broadband services,” he said. “We continue to believe that all spectrum should be on the table for potential reallocation, including the almost 300 MHz allocated for broadcast television use, which is spectrum most favorable to mobile broadband. We look forward to working with the Commission and the broadband team to consider mechanisms to put spectrum to its highest use."
The wireless industry is facing an imminent spectrum crisis as high-bandwidth applications threaten to crash already overburdened networks. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski promised to address the issue in October 2009. The proposal to reallocate spectrum from broadcasters to mobile broadband providers was one of the measures considered to address the spectrum shortage.
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Originally Posted by bidger /forum/post/17919904
Anyone else getting a funky page display with the hyperlink provided?
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FCC backs off talk of forcefully reclaiming spectrum from TV broadcasters
By Chris Ziegler
a move that would arguably make sense considering the ever-shrinking importance of over-the-air television and the availability of more efficient broadcast methods --
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not really an optimal solution when some estimates have us needing to clear several hundred additional megahertz to keep up with data demand over the next few years -- but it's a start.
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Originally Posted by BCF68 /forum/post/17919408
A win for now.
http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/201...ers-axed-fcc/?
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Originally Posted by Sammer /forum/post/17920423
Broadcasters and viewers of OTA TV have won nothing!
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Broadcasters don't own any spectrum so how can they sell any
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Originally Posted by alphanguy /forum/post/17923676
And why is WIRELESS broadband so important? Is it THAT important for people to surf the net while theyr'e sittin on the can taking a dump?
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Antenna Sales Skyrocket - 2009 JUN 12
Consumers are switching to digital TV antennas, and here’s why. First, the digital transition taking place now (and set to be completed this June) brings the best digital broadcast quality to consumers across all stations. No longer will TVs receive low signal quality as they did in the past. Channel Master’s digital TV antennas (i.e. UHF/VHF) are the reliable, hi-quality choice to bring in those digital broadcasts. So whether reception is being viewed on a hi-def or standard-def TV with a converter box, image quality will be the best possible for each type. This ‘upgrade’ to digital comes into their homes for free. Second, is the high cost of cable television. Cable TV pricing has risen a staggering 77 percent since 1996, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s double the rate of inflation, and it comes at a time when other technology prices are decreasing. “The average family has very little choice as to what channels are included, yet they’re having to pay more and more for those same channels,(sic)” said FCC chairman Kevin Martin.¹ With the current state of the economy, consumers are dropping their cable & satellite TV and are buying antennas, saving them hundreds of dollars per year. Consumers that used to sign up for cable or satellite simply to get better picture quality than they could have with an antenna, now realize that they no longer need to pay for services to get the best picture quality. Switching to a digital TV antenna is a smart, low cost alternative to ever increasing cable prices and still brings quality entertainment and news into their homes. And, with Channel Master’s selection of hi-quality digital TV antennas, and 60 years as a trusted brand, you’ll have what they’ll need to make that switch easily and reliably! ¹.Good Morning America, www.abcnews.go.com
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Originally Posted by BCF68 /forum/post/17920297
Heck how much of Ch 70-83 are they using? They got that almost 30 years ago. I suspect most of it is sitting empty and unused.
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Consumers that used to sign up for cable or satellite simply to get better picture quality than they could have with an antenna, now realize that they no longer need to pay for services to get the best picture quality.
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Originally Posted by JeffAHayes /forum/post/17941100
or which would be more likely to have backup generators in the case of a total loss of power.
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Typical politics, so keep an eye on those "MIDNIGHT" votes or rule passages.
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CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent urged the agency to move aggressively to free up the airwaves for wireless broadband.