The FCC released a News Release earlier today announcing the 45-day public testing of the “First Television White Spaces Database.” This is important news as one of the more critical requirements that must be accommodated before white space devices are certified to roam free within TV and land mobile spectrum is that they know to recognize the “do not enter” signs where incumbent TV, legal wireless microphone and land mobile operations are ongoing.The formal FCC policy states that its rules “require that unlicensed TV band devices contact an authorized database system to obtain a list of channels that are available for their operation (i.e., channels not occupied by authorized radio services) at their individual locations and must operate only on those channels.” 

For sure, I hope this first public test that will evaluate the database capabilities of Spectrum Bridge Inc., is a rousing success. It’s not in anyone’s best interest to have one of these mandated databases function improperly. Interference in this space will be messy business. Please note, however, that the FCC release reports that this is the first test. There will be additional public tests and additional news releases as 8 or 9 other entities seek to join Spectrum Bridge as an FCC certified TV white Space database provider. 

I just wish the FCC didn’t mix this important public message with “wireless innovation” marketing announcements. They just can’t seem to resist the temptation. Today’s News Release speaks to technical and engineering requirements, not the goodness of advancing technologies. This FCC News Release, noted “the result of white spaces innovation has already led to a wave of new consumer technologies, including wi-fi and other innovations like baby monitors and cordless phones that have generated billions in economic growth.” Baby monitors? Ok, I’m prone to exaggerate myself every now and then, but you have to agree with me that’s a reach! Good luck to Spectrum Bridge as it attempts to avoid baby monitors.