TV Whitespace:
The Next Big Thing?

Staring in February 2009 all broadcast television signals will be digital. Because of this change the broadcasters are able to display the same content in a higher resolution using a smaller amount of space. This process will free up most of the frequency spaces used by the old UHF band analog broadcast. On November 6, 2008 the FCC voted unanimously to allow this space to open for the use of unlicensed broadband radios.

Little is known about what this will mean in the long run, but what we do know is the frequency will be useable by unlicensed radios and will be coordinated in a new and interesting way. The radios will use geolocation linked to a FCC database to determine open frequencies. This geolocation will hold the radios responsible for frequency coordination and only allow frequencies that are open and available in the area. On the outset, this system seems like is could have some inherent abuses and result in a wireless "land grab". The FCC hasn't detailed this system yet and we will have to wait and see how the logistics of the system play out

Since manufacturers are already working on equipment to fill this band it is reasonable to assume a few things about how the product will shape up. One prominent manufacturer stated that they have turned a serious eye to the middle of the whitespace band. This is because of how the frequency spacing and reservation zones have come down to give the best frequency bandwidth and throughput results. Exact frequencies are unknown as of now, but we will get more information as it becomes available. I was also told that preliminary equipment should start to become available around Q3 or Q4 of 2009.

For more information please see the FCC release here.

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