Vacant airwaves spur TV-tech turf battle

The microphone industry is singing the same tune as broadcasters: unfettered white space use could harm signals and licensed use may be an answer.

The tech alliance says technology to detect and avoid broadcast programming and permit broadband transmission is doable and point to the testing of similar equipment by the U.S. military and other countries, such as Great Britain.

Microsoft, Philips Electronics North America Corp., Adaptrum Inc. and Motorola Inc. have submitted devices to the FCC, which plans to issue a report sometime this summer. But twice this year, Microsoft devices have broken down during tests. Last year, the agency gave another Microsoft device a failing grade.

Three strikes in the lab, say broadcasters, should keep the devices out of the market.

"You would not have Google, Microsoft and others engaging in a broad, wide-ranging political lobbying effort if their equipment worked," said David Donovan, president of the Association of Maximum Service Television, the technical arm for the TV broadcasting industry. "They're in trouble."

Peters says that's false. Lawmakers want something done with the spectrum, he says, as long as it doesn't interfere with programming — a desire shared by his group.

The FCC is collecting data to write safe-operating rules for unlicensed devices in the spectrum. The devices that have failed are not prototypes for consumer products.

Google recently suggested additional safeguards from interference, but opponents shot them down.

Broadcasters and those in the wireless microphone industry say auctioning the spectrum off — an idea also proposed by the CTIA — The Wireless Association, the telecommunications industry's main lobbying group — would hold a licensee responsible for interference problems and remedies. With unlicensed portable devices tapping in, they say it's virtually impossible to find the source to any interference.

"Let's see how serious they (technology companies) really are instead of getting a free ride and threatening the digital television transition," said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton.

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., last year suggested such an auction although he hasn't formally proposed any legislation.

Edmond Thomas, a former FCC engineer whose law firm represents tech companies supporting white spaces, said licensing the spectrum makes no sense. He said a single gatekeeper will tightly control access and service and offer devices that won't be as appealing and innovative as in an unlicensed regime.

"You'll have so many innovators all exploring ways for it be used," he said.

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