Meeting Topic: White Spaces: Wireless Microphones
Moderator Name: Jeff Bamford
Speaker Name: Chris Lyons, Manager, Technical and Educational Communications, Shure Incorporated
Meeting Location: Eaton Theatre, Ryerson University, Toronto
Last November, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved unlicensed public usage of white spaces with some safeguards. Industry Canada will watch how white spaces evolves in the US and will at some point launch its own study of the matter.
The evening's presentation addressed:
White Spaces
How the wireless mic industry interacted with the FCC
The FCC's White Spaces Order
New devices: types, testing requirements, etc.
Interference avoidance: Protected channels, Geolocation, The Database, and Spectrum Sensing
The political aspect: what happens next?
The 700 MHz Band
Channel 52 through 62 have been auctioned off in the US, however the auction hasn't happened in Canada yet. First auction people bid a few million, the last ones will be pure gold. They should likely divide it up the same way in Canada.... we hope. AT&T, Qualcomm, Verizon own the last, best spectrum in the US, now they have to retrofit the infrastructure. It probably won't be used until 2010 or a touch earlier.
The FCC has not said 700MHz is illegal for wireless devices, they're still operable, but nobody can use it until after the DTV transition in June 2009. Everything Shure makes since late 2007 is in the 470-698MHz range now.
For further reading, go to: www.shure.com/frequency
or contact: [email protected]
Twitter: chris_at_shure
various.. AT&T, Qualcomm, Various, AT&T, Verizon, D-Block, Publisc Safety, Verizon, D Block, Public Safety... big company bought regional licenses, AT&T... owns 53 &54, they need more space for wireless laptops, etc... mobile broadband. Qualcomm were able to get 55 & 56... coast to coast, and already offer a service... multichannel TV on the mobile on 56... Various is regional or local.... local wireless providers. Verizon has four channels! 9.6 BILLION... 20 billion total... just for 6 channels or so. Auctioned over the last 3 years or so, ending in 2007.
