Free Wireless Band Gets FCC OK

narramissic writes "Last month the FCC conducted tests to determine whether mobile devices using a new US radio band (2,155 to 2,175 MHz) with free wireless service would cause significant interference with cell phones using a nearby band. Now, the results are in and in a report released Friday, the FCC concluded that 'the analysis shows that an AWS-1 and AWS-3 device operating in close proximity does not necessarily result in interference.' Still, T-Mobile accuses the FCC of basing its conclusions on new assumptions that weren't used when the tests took place. But at least one party is happy: M2Z praised the report, saying 'There is no longer any need for American consumers, the public interest and the FCC's regulatory process to be held hostage as it has been for the last five months by incumbent carriers... who have used unfounded claims of interference to disguise their intent to prevent the introduction of new broadband competition in the AWS-3 band.'"

from M2Z website

[thedonger]

Since September 2007, the FCC has conducted a rulemaking that would establish rules for the 2155 - 2175 MHz band. M2Z along with tens of thousands of Americans, over 400 state, local and federal officials and a coalition of national organizations have participated in the proceeding and have asked the FCC to establish a free nationwide wireless broadband network with protections against children viewing inappropriate content.

Price notwithstanding, I guess it won't be entirely free...

Re:Any competition is good but..

[electrictroy]

The FCC censors over-the-air television or radio in order to protect children. It makes sense they would do the same for over-the-air internet.

If you don't want child-friendly service, then go purchase cable tv, satellite radio, or private internet. Those are not censored & offer lots of adult nudity or swearing or sex.

Re:Get the FCC OK!

[electrictroy]

Here's a video produced by the National Association of Broadcasters that shows what happens when somebody uses a "white space" gadget to connect to the internet on-top of an existing station:

http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/video-show-congress-white-space-interference-1014/ [broadcastengineering.com]

I hope Congress does the right thing and turns-down the use of these devices on channels 2-to-51. I don't want my television viewing to devolve to the poor interference displayed in the video.

Re:Get the FCC OK!

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a video produced by the National Association of Broadcasters that shows what happens when somebody uses a "white space" gadget to connect to the internet on-top of an existing station:

http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/video-show-congress-white-space-interference-1014/ [broadcastengineering.com]

I hope Congress does the right thing and turns-down the use of these devices on channels 2-to-51. I don't want my television viewing to devolve to the poor interference displayed in the video.

Is this NAB video any less fraudulent than the studio-produced audio CD it distributed to Congress in 2000 to "prove" that interference would be caused by community low-power FM radio stations to its members' stations?

That NAB fraud was so successful, they're apparently trying it again:
http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4835673-1.html

-bernieS