Google, MS, Dell and the rest of the White Spaces Coalition (WSC) want to keep white spaces unlicensed. They want the unused spectrum to be available for use to anyone, the way the internet is.
Sprint and T-Mobile want white spaces to opened up as well. But under licenses. Specifically, they want to license the spectrum and use it for backhauling. CTIA has joined Sprint and T-Mo (the number 3 and 4 wireless carriers in the country) in supporting the use of white spaces under licenses. CTIA pointed out that they're worried about interference with devices on the licensed portion of the spectrum, but FCC-mandated tests are being run on potential white space devices to make sure that doesn't happen.
I'm a little torn or the issue. On the one hand, it would be great to be able to buy a white space device and access the internet for surfing or Skype-ing. On the other hand Verizon and AT&T (who surprising aren't voicing opposition to the White Space Coalition) spent billions of dollars for 700MHz licenses. Is it really fair for the WSC to roll out devices that will access that same spectrum without paying for a license? Although the 700MHz spectrum could be used for voice calls Verizon has already stated that they're going to use theirs to roll out LTE, their next generation wireless broadband. I don't see them as being happy with white spaces being used for the same thing.
I (as I've said close to 258,798,663,325,458 times) am not a lawyer or anything, but here's my common sense take on white spaces.
The spectrum is licensed. If you open up more of that same spectrum for use, wouldn't it make sense that you would need a license to access it?
If you think (or know) that I'm way off base, please leave comments.
More on CTIA vs Unlicensed White Spaces at FireceWireless.
Sprint and T-Mobile want white spaces to opened up as well. But under licenses. Specifically, they want to license the spectrum and use it for backhauling. CTIA has joined Sprint and T-Mo (the number 3 and 4 wireless carriers in the country) in supporting the use of white spaces under licenses. CTIA pointed out that they're worried about interference with devices on the licensed portion of the spectrum, but FCC-mandated tests are being run on potential white space devices to make sure that doesn't happen.
I'm a little torn or the issue. On the one hand, it would be great to be able to buy a white space device and access the internet for surfing or Skype-ing. On the other hand Verizon and AT&T (who surprising aren't voicing opposition to the White Space Coalition) spent billions of dollars for 700MHz licenses. Is it really fair for the WSC to roll out devices that will access that same spectrum without paying for a license? Although the 700MHz spectrum could be used for voice calls Verizon has already stated that they're going to use theirs to roll out LTE, their next generation wireless broadband. I don't see them as being happy with white spaces being used for the same thing.
I (as I've said close to 258,798,663,325,458 times) am not a lawyer or anything, but here's my common sense take on white spaces.
The spectrum is licensed. If you open up more of that same spectrum for use, wouldn't it make sense that you would need a license to access it?
If you think (or know) that I'm way off base, please leave comments.
More on CTIA vs Unlicensed White Spaces at FireceWireless.
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