Comments on: FCC opens free 'white space' spectrum

The FCC unanimously approves rules that will open unused broadcast TV spectrum known as "white spaces" for unlicensed use.

[gbmodern]

Thank you congress! I have been hoping for this for the past month. This is one of the best desicions they have made in the past decade! Imaging getting wifi like we get tv or cell phone signals: everywhere and for free. This is going to be awesome!

[Sanjiv Swarup]

Countries like India and China should be lobbied by the likes of Google to do the same.

[SamGreco]

While I like the idea of opening up spectrum, I personally know at least a dozen small businesses that rent audio or video equipment that will be losing a ton of money on their stock of wireless microphones alone.

Perhaps a bit more discussion was in order?

I think at least a few of these businesses will not survive this in these economic times.

[fredmenace]

Hear, hear. The number of people affected and the money lost will probably equal whatever is gained. This was very much a "lalala we don't hear you, we don't care, you don't have millions of lobbying dollars lalalala" decision.

[cmstratton]

The same concerns were presented when WiFi was originally going through testing. All of the details aren't available of course, but I haven't seen anything that says existing wireless microphones would be obsolete and need to be replaced.

In fact it seems just the opposite - any new types of equipment/technology using this spectrum will be required to not interfere with existing equipment like wireless microphones.

You can't please everyone, and this opens the way for technology that could completely change the way we live. Who knows, maybe some of that technology will make those old wireless microphones obsolete and allow your friends' businesses to get better products at lower cost that have more functionality, thereby giving them a competitive advantage.

Let's keep the discussion open on this, but let's all have an open mind and not immediately conclude the sky is falling.

[tim.lsr]

I am not an expert and I am making assumptions. The wireless microphones mentioned would be specialized licensed devices used at high profile venues, likely not rental equipment. These would not be the standard unlicensed devices that are widely available and easily rented. We are talking about a wireless spectrum that has been off limits to the public. Any microphone or other device using this spectrum until now would have required extensive FCC licensing, documentation, and fees.
Think - I want to start an over the air TV station.

[chrisfrary]

Well technically if it is going to affect that equipment then it is illegally using this spectrum. They got away with it too long, now it's time for everyone to enjoy it. I am sick of manufacturers not doing enough to deal with interference. They are too lazy and want to make a quick buck.

[FireyIce01]

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The telecom companies have a stronghold on broadband internet, and charge unreasonable rates to subscribers. There are huge sections of America that are monopolized by one or two companies providing the only available broadband, and satellite internet is neither economical or equivalent. This is a huge step forward for rural Americans who may have previously only had the option of dial up internet. This will also force the telecom companies to be more competitive in their pricing if they wish to keep business. Furthermore, to Sam and Fred - what makes you think that this is going to impact these businesses? As was stated in the article, these audio devices should not be impacted by the new devices that are being made. If you're so worried about wireless microphones, you should lobby for a ban on cell phones, as the multitude of them will cause way more trouble than these wifi on steriods devices, which won't likely be carried around by virtually everyone in the country.

[JayWes]

Wireless microphones are used not only at large stadiums but in auditoriums at business;s, churches, government enties, Who is going to register a;; of these items?