TV Bandwidth up for auction in Jan

[Mels_Smileys45]

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/internet-tv-3.jpg


As Im sure some of you geek heads already know, 2009 brings an end to the free TV.....at least as we now know it. The 700MHz spectrum hits the block in Jan 2008 and you better have deep pockets, like Bill Gates Deep, if you even care to think about bidding! The bidding is wicked hush hush as the FCC has placed so many rules on the bidders that Google cant even report news on the bidding. But Google has stated they plan on spending up to 4.6 billion to buy up the bandwidth. Wish I had a bit to sell em! This 700MHz "block" of bandwidth is just the first to go up for sale with the others to follow later in the year.

In some ways I think its sad that the free, ad supported, TV has come to an end but then I have to wonder.......whats next?????

What are corporations like Google going to do with this huge chunk of awesome bandwidth??? Ive been thinking about this for awhile and still I cant say. My guess would be high speed wireless that covers whole cities perhaps. Maybe even free wireless access for the masses!!!! Who knows?? Do you?

What do you think the winner will do with this new power?

[Mels_Smileys45]

Hmmmmm, now that I think about it......That bandwidth is "one way" so what good is it really?

[Mels_Smileys45]

Just Ahead: A Wider Wireless World

Shutting down analog TV will free up a big slice of spectrum for more service

by Stephen H. Wildstrom

In the year ahead, a long-heralded revolution in wireless communications will finally come to pass. It may throw handset makers and service providers into turmoil, but over time it should be great for consumers. Fast, wireless data will become more widely available, the choice of data devices and mobile handsets will expand, and service just might get cheaper.

The biggest driver of change is an event slated for February, 2009. It is, of all things, the shutdown of analog television broadcasting. The conversion to digital TV will free up space now occupied by UHF channels 52 to 69. A chunk is being turned over to police and fire departments, and the rest will be auctioned off in January, 2008.


A Battle Looms


There are three reasons this spectrum will change the wireless landscape. First, it increases the total bandwidth available for wireless networks. Second, the relatively low frequency—around 700 MHz—penetrates buildings well. That means it will work as an alternative to cable or DSL Internet service to homes as well as for mobile phones. Finally, the Federal Communications Commission will require the buyers of a large piece of the spectrum to give customers much greater freedom in their choice of devices than carriers have traditionally allowed.

The auction is shaping up as a battle between entrenched carriers AT&T (T) and Verizon Wireless (VZ) , and a group of upstarts, most prominently Google (GOOG) . Many of the industry's leading players—with the notable exception of AT&T, Apple (AAPL) , and Microsoft (MSFT) —have joined Google's Open Handset Alliance, which is creating standardized handset software that can run any application users choose. Verizon, long the most locked down of U.S. carriers, promises to open its network in 2008 to any compatible phone running any compatible software. By the end of the year, a wave of openness may render the U.S. wireless business unrecognizable.

Meanwhile, other changes are shaking the industry. Despite management upheavals and investor unhappiness, Sprint Nextel (S) in 2008 will kick off a fast wireless broadband technology called WiMAX. This is suitable for both mobile and residential service. Sprint and startup ClearWire (CLWR) , which has launched a similar technology in some markets, have bought the spectrum they need, so they could get a jump on the bidders in the 700 MHz auction. And Verizon plans trials of a superfast service called LTE.


Read the rest here http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_53/b4065000572464.htm?sub=techmaven

[manakazero]

The old TV bandwidth is VERY valuable because it is such a good signal range. It will be interesting to see how it plays out with open access to those airwaves.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I also wonder about the national emergency broadcast system. We have never used I dont think, it didnt work on 9/11, so maybe its not a huge loss but local TV access sure would be nice if there was some local terror threat.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Microsoft co-founder looks to add to spectrum cache

By John Letzing, MarketWatch


SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- If Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen succeeds in acquiring spectrum at the Federal Communications Commission auction in January, it will add to an existing batch of the valuable airwaves he's already amassed in the Pacific Northwest.



Allen, through Vulcan Spectrum LLC, disclosed a commitment earlier this week to bid at the Jan. 24 auction, alongside companies including Google Inc. Though his intention to bid came as a surprise to many, if Allen wins some of the spectrum it will add to a swath he's already acquired through Vulcan in the valuable 700-megahertz band, according to FCC filings.
Allen snapped up 24 700-megahertz licenses through Vulcan in 2003, filings show. Those licenses are entirely based in Washington and Oregon, and include major metropolitan areas such as Portland and Seattle.
The question now is what Allen intends to do with his spectrum portfolio. He acquired cable operator Charter Communications Inc. in 1998, presenting one potential use.

Tim Sanders, an analyst with Maravedis Inc., said that Vulcan may be acquiring and holding the spectrum for Charter, in a move that could save Charter money on related taxes. In addition, Sanders said, by keeping the spectrum held by a private entity like Vulcan, publicly traded Charter isn't required to divulge much about what it's doing with it.

"Amassing spectrum is a venerable tradition in the U.S.," he commented. "There is tons of spectrum in the U.S. just sitting there waiting for somebody to do something with it. Mostly it is in the hands of big companies. In the cellular frequencies it is very well utilized and nearing capacity, but in other spectrum ranges it is barely deployed."
Speculation about Allen's other possible intentions for the airwaves include video broadcasting. Qualcomm Inc. for example, uses 700-megahertz spectrum for its MediaFLO mobile-television service. "Certain blocks have more relaxed requirements that make them more attractive for [video] broadcast services," Signals Research Group analyst Michael Thelander said of the 700-megahertz spectrum.
Or, Vulcan could also simply be amassing the valuable resource in hopes of selling it at a later date.
Michael Nank, a spokesman for Allen, declined to comment on the reasons for Vulcan's entry into the January spectrum auction.
Other companies, such as AT&T, will likely use the 700-megahertz spectrum to provide connections for Internet, mobile phones and streaming video. Such spectrum is particularly valuable as a low-frequency variety that can penetrate walls and other obstructions.
Spectrum is one of many areas Allen has dabbled in over the years.





For the rst of the story: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/microsoft-co-founder-looks-add-spectrum/story.aspx?guid=%7B2FAAAA6F-797F-43DC-BE6A-B299BB7C58B7%7D

[Mels_Smileys45]

700-MHz Auction Draws Mixed Reaction


Some open-network advocates say the federal government's 700-MHz auction could be a good first step toward giving American consumers access to a truly open wireless network.

Sascha Meinrath, the research director for the New America Foundation's Wireless Future Program, says the 700-MHz auction went "exactly as expected," with big carriers Verizon and AT&T scoring big wins on the so-called "C" and "B" blocks of spectrum, respectively. Now that the spectrum has been allotted to the victors, he says, the future of open mobile broadband networks in the United States now hinges upon how vigorously the FCC enforces the open-access regulations it placed on the C Block, the 22-MHz chunk of spectrum that Verizon bid more than US$4.5 billion for the rights to operate.

The C Block is a particularly valuable piece of spectrum because it provides the broadest range of coverage over any spectrum available in the auction, and could potentially hold the key to building out a nationwide open-access wireless network. The FCC placed open-access rules on the block last year that will prohibit Verizon from blocking or slowing Internet traffic from competing carriers using the network, or from discriminating against devices trying to connect to the network. The commission adopted the rules in response to heavy lobbying from Google and consumer-advocacy groups.

Meinrath says while the open-access rules have the right intent behind them, they are broadly written and can be open to different interpretations. Thus the future composition of the FCC, and whether its members are strongly committed to the principle of open networks, will determine just how open the C-Block spectrum really is.






Read much more here http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143705-c,industrynews/article.html

[Theinfamousone]

Lets hope Microsoft doesn't get their hands on it. They seem to be good at squandering assets and finding a way to be pricks and screw people over when they gain power.

[mountain_rage]

Mels, I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but there should still be over the air broadcasting. Its only going digital, its not disappearing. The new bandwidth is created due to the fact that digital signals require less bandwidth than their analogue counterparts. So all the emergency broadcasting, free tv, etc will still exists. Even better is the fact that a digital signal is either on or off, so your picture will no longer have ghosting, noise, artifacts etc.

[drtoker]

I also wonder about the national emergency broadcast system. We have never used I dont think, it didnt work on 9/11, so maybe its not a huge loss but local TV access sure would be nice if there was some local terror threat.

So what, people are just gunna stare at static waiting for news? I dont think so. Thats a waste of bandwidth. Theres radio, satelite and cable. If you dont have 1 of those 3, you are going to live in the dark, sorry.

And the EBS works over cable at least, I've seen tests and it broadcasts over every channel, and cuts you off if your watching on demand to show it even. Pretty slick.

Edit: just read the post above mine. Didn't know there would still be TV over antenna. All the info around here suggests that rabbit ears are going to be useless, and you need to have some sort of hookup, like cable or satellite to get channels. Anyone have any links that explain this better, because I think I'm confused!

[thepuzzler]

Even better is the fact that a digital signal is either on or off, so your picture will no longer have ghosting, noise, artifacts etc. Terrestrial Digital TV is still prone to blocking / digital breakup when broadcast over the air. It really depends on your georgaphy, distance from the transmitter, quality of your recieving equipment, how well your cable and sockets are shielded and so on.

[mountain_rage]

Rabbit ears alone will be useless, the problem is not with the rabbit ears but with the signal decoder in the TV. So basically in order for your TV to understand the digital signal it will have to be converted to an analogue signal first by a set top box.

The fcc has a good post about it

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html

Terrestrial Digital TV is still prone to blocking / digital breakup when broadcast over the air. It really depends on your georgaphy, distance from the transmitter, quality of your recieving equipment, how well your cable and sockets are shielded and so on.

This is just my own speculation, as I've had no experience with over the air digital, but if you were getting a half decent signal before, you should be fine to see them in better quality now. Digital signals seem to be very forgiving most of the time. If people are experiencing problems they could simply get a better tuner, as some will be able to better differentiate the on and off voltages. Of course anything that cleans up or impoves your signal will aslo help ensure a good connection.

[thepuzzler]

Ah ok, I used to think the same thing about it being an ''all or nothing thing''

Basically I worked for ITV digital when they first started up in tech support and it was nightmarish. The problem was normally the customer's analogue aerial.

They've had it for 50 odd years along with the cabling and wonder why they're only recieving some of the mutiplexs or why their picture is freezing and chunking up into huge squares.

Poor shielding is usually to blame, and or aerial mis-alignment.

As an aside: Watching football / soccer on a digital is bad enough. Fast moving, small objects are definitley not digital's strong point!