October 29th, 2008
Rockers fight white space; FCC unmoved
The over-50 rocker set has piled onto the anti-white space campaign, Ars Technica reports. Among the musicians signing on to the opposition (PDF): Neil Diamond, The Bangles, Don Henley, Mac Davis, Kenny G, Vanessa Williams, Peter Frampton, Rick Springfield, The Scorpions, Meat Loaf, DJ Green Lantern, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, and the Dixie Chicks and Rob Zombie.
The point: Require white space devices to be tethered to a frequency database and reserve channels for exclusive wireless mic operation.
Ars’ Matthew Lasar notes that the FCC’s executive summary (PDF) says right up front:
[S]pectrum sensing in combination with geo-location and database access techniques can be used to authorize equipment today under appropriate technical standards.
At this point, cable, TV, the music industry and some 30 members of Congress are lined up for delay. The technology industry would like the FCC to move forward on schedule.
It doesn’t appear that the gathering of the incumbent wagons is making a difference. The white space vote is item #5 on the FCC’s docket for next Tuesday (PDF.)
