Microsoft Getting Backing From Critic NAB on Some Further TV White Spaces Tweaks
Microsoft is picking up some backing from NAB for white spaces changes after the association was at loggerheads with the tech company. Frontier Communications also is coming on board with some changes. A day earlier, the FCC approved other tweaks to TV white spaces device rules (see 1903200059).
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NAB told the FCC it supports part of Microsoft’s proposals for changes to rules for the TV white spaces. NAB urged the agency to seek comment on various proposals by the company. Among them is permitting higher radiated power limits in less-congested areas and permitting the operation of fixed devices at up to 500 meters height above average terrain subject to protections for other sues of the spectrum. It supported seeking comment on allowing geofenced fixed operations and fixed operations on movable platforms within geofenced areas and allowing white spaces for the narrowband IoT.
NAB and Microsoft “have been engaged in productive discussions regarding potential modifications to the Commission’s television white spaces rules to facilitate operations in rural areas while ensuring that licensed operations are protected,” the association said in docket 16-56: “As a result of these conversations, NAB agrees that the Commission should pursue certain, but not all, changes Microsoft is seeking.”
Paul Margie of Harris Wiltshire, lawyer for Microsoft, said in a filing he spoke with Julius Knapp, chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, about the NAB letter and appreciated the group’s willingness to look at changes to the rules in four areas. Margie said Microsoft hopes the agency will seek comment on the areas proposed by NAB and others the company promoted in October (see 1802050031). “These changes would strengthen rural ISPs’ ability to expand broadband in underserved and unserved communities,” Margie said.
Frontier filed in support of Microsoft, as did Connect Americans Now (see here and here). “Frontier has been testing TV White Spaces spectrum as an additional tool to reach the hardest-to-serve rural Americans, and Frontier believes that [it] can help serve additional these consumers -- especially if there is sufficient spectrum available with appropriate technical rules,” the carrier said.
The Wireless ISP Association and the Dynamic Alliance both praised the updated rules. "Fixed wireless internet providers are eager to use the TV White spaces to deliver broadband to rural Americans,” WISPA President Claude Aiken emailed: The order, which allows antennas of up to 100 meters in less congested areas, "promotes better signal propagation, and this will result in more broadband to wider areas."
The change is "positive" and "long overdue and we urge the Commission to expeditiously take further steps to provide internet service providers additional access to TV white spaces,” DSA said. ACT | The App Association said access to white spaces would ameliorate congested wireless networks. It also said the agency should continue opening up spectrum for unlicensed use by resolving issues encumbering white spaces-enabled broadband.