NAB calls for comment period on FCC white-space report

Following the FCC's engineering report released last week that said certain unlicensed white-space devices don't pose an interference threat to broadcasters, the National Association of Broadcasters said it filed an emergency request with the commission urging the agency to follow its own standard practice and seek comment on the technical report. The NAB is been a big opponent of white-space devices, saying they pose a grave interference threat.

"... (I)t has been the Commission's practice to adopt rules based on complex data only after allowing the public an opportunity to comment on that data," the broadcasters stated. "Failure to provide adequate opportunity for public comment on information so central to the outcome of this proceeding raises serious questions about compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act."

Not only did the FCC release the report, but Chairman Kevin Martin voiced support for white-space devices. The commission is set to vote on whether to proceed with a rulemaking process on the issue Nov. 4. The report said white-space devices with geolocation and sensing technologies could be used with some conditions without interference to existing surrounding users such as television broadcasters and wireless microphones, but nixed the idea of devices that rely solely on spectrum sensing.

For more:
- read this release [1]

Related articles:
FCC set to vote on white-space issue [2] Nov. 4
Could white space become the next BPL debacle? [3]
Google steps up white-space lobbying efforts [4] with new web site