TV Airwaves To Deliver Internet?

roscoetoon directs our attention to a proposal from an odd assortment of tech companies — Google, Microsoft, H-P, Intel, and others — to reuse TV wavelengths to deliver first-mile connectivity. The Washington Post article is subtitled "Cable, Phone Companies Watch Warily." As well they might. One of the big content companies that the incumbent duopolists propose to soak by dismantling network neutrality, in company with some powerful allies, is striking back at the heart of their business.

The article was a little light on details...

[Anonymous Coward]

But choking on the unwieldy sentence in that write-up made up for it.

Re:well

[Petey_Alchemist]

You know, when I said I wanted lonelygirl15 in my living room, I didn't mean it that way.

Wow! The internet over TV

[suckmysav]

That might alleviate the forecast bandwidth shortage that is due to occur when TV over the internet is rolled out in force!

No way...

[__aaclcg7560]

If over the air comes in like regular TV in my area, the internet will be fast and sexy with a Spanish accent.

Re:First Mile vs. Last Mile

[Anonymous Coward]

Doubleplusgood!

don't worry

[game kid]

It's just an infinite loop. It's not like they'll emulate the full experience of the internet by introducing blue screens to the telev--oh wait...

interwebs

[sc0p3]

You guys are so closed mined, they're gunna to send the all the interwebs over the airwaves-tubes. Easy. Brilliant I rekon

Wait...wasn't there an RFC?

[Jay Carlson]

What a great idea. Maybe there should be a standards track RFC for this? Maybe from Microsoft?

Oh right, there was:

RFC 2728: The Transmission of IP Over the Vertical Blanking Interval of a Television Signal [faqs.org]

This RFC proposes several protocols to be used in the transmission of IP datagrams using the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of a television signal. The VBI is a non-viewable portion of the television signal that can be used to provide point-to-multipoint IP data services which will relieve congestion and traffic in the traditional Internet access networks. Wherever possible these protocols make use of existing RFC standards and non-standards.

[...]

Today, IP is quickly becoming the preferred method of distributing one-to-many data on intranets and the Internet. The coming availability of low cost PC hardware for receiving television signals accompanied by broadcast data streams makes a defined standard for the transmission of data over traditional broadcast networks imperative. A lack of standards in this area as well as the expense of hardware has prevented traditional broadcast networks from becoming effective deliverers of data to the home and office.

Of course, back in 1999 we all knew what Zork and null modems were. Oh brave new Slashdot.

Southern vs Northern Hemisphere

[EmbeddedJanitor]

That,s the problem with you northern hemisphere folk... you're always looking at things from the wrong side.

Still WTF is a Zimbabwean poet doing coining Geeky Computer terms? Fuck off buster! I don't try making clever terminology about poetry.

Re:Glad the UN is concentrating on important matte

[fprintf]

Your comment about the UN deconstructing phrases reminds me of Life of Brian [imdb.com] with the People's Front of Judea.

For example:
"Brian: Thank God you've come, Reg.
Reg: Well, I think I should point out first, Brian, in all fairness, we are not, in fact, the rescue committee. However, I have been asked to read the following prepare statement on behalf of the movement. "We the People's Front of Judea, brackets, officials, end brackets, do hereby convey our sincere fraternal and sisterly greetings to you, Brian, on this, the occasion of your martyrdom. "
Brian: What?
Reg: "Your death will stand as a landmark in the continuing struggle to liberate the parent land from the hands of the Roman imperialist aggressors, excluding those concerned with drainage, medicine, roads, housing, education, viniculture and any other Romans contributing to the welfare of Jews of both sexes and hermaphrodites. Signed, on behalf of the P. F. J. , etc. " And I'd just like to add, on a personal note, my own admiration, for what you're doing for us, Brian, on what must be, after all, for you a very difficult time. "