For long-time readers, you know that I've been working on the 3650-3700 MHz FCC proceedings for a few years nowthe FCC created a rather unique quasi-(un)licensing rule for the band, allowing community networkers, WISPs, and other interested parties to access this resource. By 2007 we began to see the widespread availability of 3650-3700 MHz equipment.

I've begun to collect data on real-world use of 3650-3700 MHz equipment (yes, it's already being implemented in networks across the country):

WISPs have been leading the charge and people are reporting 15km non-line-of-sight (NLOS) connectivity with 3650-3700 MHz (operating at 10W) -- which is a huge boost over 802.11. Meanwhile, capacity seems to be hovering around 15 Mb per 7.5 MHz (or 20Mb per 10MHz) -- so 100Mb connections over 15km without line of sight are quite feasible using this band. All in all, that's pretty impressive for first-generation equipment. The equipment vendor Aperto is claiming that their new equipment will get 20Mb per 7MHz (so you can see the development curve is already fairly steep).

To give you a feel for the real-world implications, folks testing things out reported, "6mb/s indoor at 2 miles NLOS. The base station was a 1 sector install using diversity at approximately 50ft up on tower using 120 degree sectors" -- try to get that with an 802.11 access point.

Sooner or later metro wireless folks will figure it out (at which point they're deploy like crazy before realizing the capacity limits given population/user density). Meanwhile, I think it's fairly clear vindication as to the import and utility of the band. Hopefully, municipal networkers will check with objective experts before jumping onto what is sure to be a 3650-3700 MHz bandwagon, but all in all, this is great news for wireless networkers everywhere.

"Smart" wireless devices can use the unassigned frequencies between broadcast TV channels to offer wireless broadband and other innovative services. A rulemaking is pending at the FCC (docket 04-186) to permit unlicensed access to this currently wasted spectrum, subject to technical requirements that will protect television reception from interference. Access to the vacant TV channels in each market has been the subject of intense lobbying, yet far too many of the arguments against "white space" devices rely upon misinformation about the technologies and the FCC process that will prevent harmful interference to DTV reception and other incumbent services.

This policy backgrounder offers a summary analysis, and is an effort to help policymakers strike the appropriate balance between protecting existing services from interference while making the benefits of mobile broadband services available and affordable for all consumers. It provides policymakers with:

1. a brief historical background to the current FCC proceedings;
2. a description of White Space Device (WSD) technologies;
3. a “Myths vs. Facts” section addressing the key concerns raised about WSDs;
4. an overview of the public benefits of WSDs; and
5. a concise summary of where we are in the multi-phase process of adopting WSD technologies for consumer use.

For the full document, please click here.

The political tides are beginning to turn when it comes to opening up vast quantities of new spectrum to unlicensed devices. Strangely enough, it's not the FCC that's the driving force behind these new initiatives, but Congress. Congressional members, tired of a stagnant broadband rollout across the United States are, more and more, taking matters into their own hands.

There's been a ton of news of late, but here's the last blurb to come across my desk (from the Benton Headlines):

WIRELESS ENTREPRENEURS: CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]

Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Commerce Committee remain pretty much in agreement that some legislation is needed to open up spectrum to wireless devices, likely including some in the spaces between broadcast channels. Driving the concern is the rollout of broadband service to rural and other underserved areas. At a hearing on the issue in the committee Tuesday, John Kneuer, of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, pointed out that, starting in 2005, the Office of Management and Budget said spectrum policy has to be looked at in terms of conserving and efficiently using spectrum. Thomas Walsh, of the rural Cellular Association, argued that it is technologically feasible to open up the broadcast band to unlicensed devices "with no danger" to existing broadcast channels, and said there is a clear benefit to doing so. Sen Kerry called broadcasters' fears of interference from the new unlicensed devices a "false argument."

www.broadcastingcable.com
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

* Intel urges lawmakers to free up U.S. airwaves