Sprint and T-Mobile USA urged the FCC to allocate vacant TV channels — known as white spaces (FCC pdf) — for wireless backhaul services, reports RCR News.
Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile submitted their FCC filing to express support for a TV white spaces plan — based on a fixed-licensing scheme — offered by Fiber Tower and the Rural Telecommunications Group. Fiber Tower has an extensive spectrum footprint in 24 GHz and 39 GHz bands. Until now, the mobile-phone industry has remained largely on the sidelines, while tech companies promote the use of unlicensed use of the unused television band.
According to RCR News, Sprint’s filling said:
“Because backhaul comprises a significant cost for wireless carriers, and incumbent local exchange carriers’ special-access charges are exorbitant, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile must find more affordable alternatives to the ILECS’s special-access offerings. Despite this need, the amount of spectrum in the lower bands that is realistically available for the provision of wireless backhaul services has declined dramatically over the years. As wireless carriers expand the development of their 3G and 4G wireless networks, the need for reliable and cost effective backhaul will increase.”
The Wireless Innovation Alliance, backed by consumer electronics industry giants like Intel, HP, Microsoft, Google and others, supports the unlicensed use of unused television channels.
TV broadcasters say unlicensed wireless devices in white spaces will interfere with digital television signals. Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile argue that interference is less likely with fixed licensing.
Other national mobile-phone operators may not necessarily be inclined to join Sprint and T-Mobile, says RCR News, because AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless dominate the “special-access market” that Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile criticize.
Related DailyWireless stories include; White Space Gets Hot, Microsoft Disputes FCC Unlicensed Finding, FCC: License-free 700MHz Devices Failed Test, Broadcasters: Portable Devices Kill DTV, Mud Fight in White Space, Pushing for “White Space”, Consumers to FCC: 700MHz Democracy Now!, Broadband Wireless — Hello Goodbye, Microsoft’s “Free” Phone?, Bills Expand Unlicensed UHF Access, 700MHz Battle Begins, Cognitive Brains Self Organize, Unlicensed 700Mhz Access, HiWire: 24 Mobile TV Channels, MobileTV: Modeo KOed by Crown, Mobile/Handheld TV: Killer App?, Mobile TV War at NAB, NAB 2007: Dead Man Walking?, MediaFlo Debuts March 1st, NYC Mobile TV Delayed, Hiwire Moves on Mobile TV, Mobile TV: Six Flavors and FCC Finalizes Rules on 700MHz: Limited Open Access, No Wholesale Requirement.
