FCC AIDE REFEREES INTEL-BROADCASTERS SKIRMISH OVER SMART RADIOS
SAN FRANCISCO -- A senior FCC staffer indicated the outlook for unlicensed software-defined radio (SDR) using broadcast TV “white space” spectrum probably was closer to that seen by gung-ho Intel than by a highly skeptical broadcaster organization. Peter Pitsch, Intel communications policy dir., “says ‘no problem,'” said Bruce Franca, FCC Office of Engineering & Technology deputy chief, speaking at an Intel Developer Forum panel here late Wed. “Victor [Tawil, MSTV senior vp] says it can’t be done. I'm not going to tell you who’s right, because this is still an ongoing proceeding at the FCC.”
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SDR “is a complicated problem,” Franca said: “It is not simple… But we're optimistic we can make it work.” Other panelists’ views represented strong support from the computer industry and “strong, strong concern from broadcasters,” Franca said. But letting smart devices use a market’s unoccupied TV channels where they won’t interfere with broadcasting supports 3 of FCC Chmn. Powell’s strategic goals -- broadband, spectrum efficiency and competition -- he said: “Technology we believe is at a point now to make this happen.”
Pitsch said Intel supported “non-interfering easements” for licensed spectrum, both “underlays” such as ultra wideband and “overlays” for agile radios. Licensing should be reformed to let spectrum holders adjust to the market and exploit new technologies, he said. Existing “command and control” spectrum regulation lets incumbents block competition from innovators by lobbying and litigation, Pitsch complained.
But Tawil said the broadcast space in metropolitan areas was highly congested, and the Achilles heel of smart radio was the inability of sensitive new devices and dumb old ones to recognize each other to avert interference. Interference arises among receivers, which broadcasters don’t control, he said; analog TVs have poor interference rejection and digital TVs have yet to live up to promised improvement.
From the audience, Public Knowledge Pres. Gigi Sohn said high penetration of cable and satellite services made feasible auctioning off all TV spectrum and devoting some proceeds to subsidizing pay service for holdout households. Tawil resisted, touting broadcasting as “ubiquitous. It’s broadband wireless. It’s changing, and there will be value.”