Dolly Parton enters 'white space' debate

When Dolly Parton speaks people listen. At least that's what opponents to an upcoming Federal Communications Commission vote on opening up "white space" spectrum hope.

Earlier this week, country western star Dolly Parton sent a letter to the FCC asking the agency to delay its vote to open up the unused spectrum for unlicensed use.

"As someone who uses the white spaces and knows the value of them for the work that I and many of my friends around the country, I ask the FCC to recognize the entertainment industry's valuable contribution to the cultural life," Parton wrote in her letter. "I can unequivocally confirm that the importance of clear, consistent wireless microphone broadcasts simply cannot be overstated. This industry relies on wireless technology and is in jeopardy of being irreversibly devastated by the commission's pending decision."

Parton is just one of several performers who in the past week have joined the fight against opening up so-called white space spectrum. In addition to Parton, Neil Diamond, the Dixie Chicks, Clay Aiken, and Guns N' Roses have also joined together in signing a letter to the FCC asking it to delay a vote on white spaces.

Several religious leaders including mega-church pastor Joel Osteen have also sent letters to the FCC asking for a delay as has the chairman of the MGM Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

This flood of opposition comes one week before the FCC is expected to vote on a proposal that would open up unused white space wireless spectrum that is currently used to buffer broadcast channels for unlicensed use.

After months of testing, the FCC's engineering office released a report two weeks ago essentially giving the green light to the FCC to allow unlicensed users to access this spectrum.

The report noted that geo-location technology, which uses a database to help devices identify and avoid spectrum bands known to already be in use, worked very well in avoiding interference. But the report's results were less conclusive about the use of sensing technology that would help prevent interference between white space devices and wireless microphones.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has already crafted a proposal in support of opening up the spectrum. But opponents say that the public should be given more time to review and comment on the report. /p>

Technology companies, which say opening up white space spectrum could create new wireless broadband services, say the time for comments is over. And it's time for the FCC to move the matter forward.

Sensing the public relations circus that is mounting around the opposition to this issue, several technology luminaries gave voice to their cause this week. Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Dell founder Michael Dell, and Microsoft founder and former CEO Bill Gates, have all sent letters and made calls to the FCC this week to encourage the agency to move forward with its planned vote.

Google has even mounted an online petition campaign to show support from consumers on the issue. On Tuesday, the company noted that more than 20,000 consumers support its FreeTheAirwaves.com petition online. Nearly 2,000 of those petitions supposedly were submitted to the FCC since Thursday, which was when the company posted a call to action on its Official Google Blog.

The big question now is whether the FCC will be swayed by singers Parton and Diamond's pleas for more time, or if the five-person commission will listen to Schmidt and Gates. At this point, I suppose it's anyone's guess. But my bet is still with Google and Microsoft.

[uhpl508]

I tend to think Google understands technology better than Dolly Parton or Neil Diamond.

[corntoole]

hmm, I hadn't thought about interference with wireless microphones. I mean that's pretty serious for live performers' bread and butter. But the FCC should vote to move this the next stage so people can test and iron out all the kinks out in the wild. I take the sacrifice of having to go back to corded mics for open, accessible data networks.

[fredmenace]

I'm glad some big names from the music industry have started to speak out, but they are VERY tardy - this issue has been known about for a long time within the sound-reinforcement industry. It could be a big problem not just for major concerts, but for churches, schools, clubs, company events, and all kinds of other sound-reinforcement applications large and small, for both spoken and musical presentations. It can affect wireless ear monitors, too. Going back to wires and loudspeaker monitors may adversely affect sound quality, performer mobility, their ability to hear (and thus give a good performance), bring back feedback, etc. It may force a lot of people who don't have the budget for it to buy new (old) equipment - all so a few big players in wireless networking can make more bucks without paying for the spectrum.

[sharkarm]

There has to be a way around this. Can't you have a private wireless network that uses bluetooth microphones? I just don't understand why we can't adapt existing wireless technology to accomodate the artists needs.

[archaicforest]

There are literally millions of microphones currently in use. The costs to just change all these at once would be too much for smaller venues to bear. If these places want to stay open, then Google and Microsoft shouldn't force their way into the spectrum. Even if it works the way they say it's supposed to, then those devices that scan for open channels may not always find any. If they are using too many channels, then one or the other won't work.

[Magallanes]

I don't understand, Google says :"Today more than three-quarters of those radio airwaves, or "white space" spectrum, are completely unused. This vast public resource could offer a revolution in wireless services of all kinds, including universal wireless Internet. The FCC will soon decide whether to open this unused spectrum for general usage, and your voice matters -- a lot"

BUT, as far as i can understand, Google is saying the white space is unused (hence free for all) but they want to privatize it.

[drpierce]

Tough cookies. That's all, that's it. Wireless microphones? Seriously? Does anyone realize what this will do to the telecoms if they don't bend their model's in favor of the new technology? Doesn't anyone realize why they might care, and why them caring so much is such a good thing for the rest of us? Think deregulation of the airlines. Does anyone remember Pan Am? Does anyone remember how much flying used to cost before Southwest existed? The argument of wireless microphones is like arguing for a peanut farm going out of business because no one's gonna fly Pan Am anymore. Remember how the majority occupation 120 years ago was farming, and how it's not anymore, and that maybe that's okay for the prosperity of our country? Wireless microphones? Learn a little something, then come talk. 'Tards