FCC takes steps to use TV spectrum for broadband

The Federal Communications Commission took steps to free up UHF and VHF spectrum for mobile and fixed broadband use, along with initiatives designed to help more innovation on experimental licenses, all with the goal of meeting the Obama administration’s National Broadband Plan, which calls for 500 megahertz of spectrum freed up in the next 10 years. The actions at today’s meeting also helps Congress should it choose to authorize the agency to conduct incentive auctions.
In a question-and-answer period after the meeting, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski did not address whether the commission planned to address network neutrality issues at its next meeting, set for Dec. 21. The meeting originally was scheduled for earlier in December, and the fact that the meeting was pushed back a bit has fueled speculation the agency is going to address the issue at next month’s meeting.
The agency voted to let TV channel frequencies be used for fixed and mobile broadband allocations as a primary use, along with existing broadcast services; allows two or more TV stations to share a single 6-megahertz channel, freeing up one or more of the original channels for broadband services. The ruling also increases the value of the VHF bands, increasing the maximum power allowed and creating minimum performance standards for indoor antennas. The move potentially frees up 120 megahertz of spectrum, and paves the way for potential auctioning of this spectrum, which Genachowsi said he hopes Congress addresses. Incentive auctions would provide contiguous blocks of spectrum, which is needed to remain competitive globally, he said.
The commission also opened a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update rules surrounding experimental spectrum licenses. The NRPM proposes to create three new classes of experimental licenses. Program licenses would be set aside for universities and national laboratories to experiment without having to get approval for specific trials; innovation zone licenses would allow entities to test within set geographic boundaries; and medical program licenses would be used by medical institutions to improve patient care.
Finally, the FCC issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) that seeks comment on ways to promote more intensive spectrum-sharing techniques, including dynamic spectrum access for unlicensed and licensed uses, whether the database access model used in white spaces today could be deployed in other bands and which bands would be good candidates. Specifically, the FCC is asking whether spectrum that did not meet minimum bid requirements at auction or unused spectrum in rural areas would be good bands for dynamic spectrum leasing.
“We applaud the FCC for opening a proceeding to explore options for freeing up valuable spectrum in the broadcast TV bands for mobile broadband services,” said CTIA President Steve Largent in a prepared statement. “Today’s action is another important step to ensuring that we can meet America’s growing demand for mobile Internet access at anytime and anywhere. … Today’s vote was important to our industry so we can continue to assist our nation’s economic recovery and so we can meet consumers’ demands for mobile broadband.”