FCC Considers Rules for Smart Radios in Vacant TV Channels

The FCC is proposing to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the broadcast television spectrum at locations where the spectrum is not in use by television stations if they incorporate "smart radio" features that can identify unused TV channels.



Due to the physics of signal propagation, transmissions in the TV band can travel farther and can better penetrate into buildings than transmissions in the spectrum where existing unlicensed wireless broadband operations are permitted. As a result, allowing unlicensed operations in the TV bands could benefit wireless internet service customers by extending the service range of current providers' (WISPs) existing operations, particularly in rural and underserved areas.



The FCC is proposing to classify the unlicensed broadband devices that could be used in the TV bands into two general functional categories. The first category would consist of lower power "personal/portable" unlicensed devices, such as Wi-Fi like cards in laptop computers or wireless in-home local area networks. The second category would consist of higher power "fixed/access" unlicensed devices that are generally operated from a fixed location and may be used to provide a commercial service such as wireless broadband internet access. http://www.fcc.gov