[cma-l] OFCOM Press Release - Future of FM Band

Sat Jul 9 09:45:23 BST 2011

You cynic Peter. Bear in mind I don't think this technology has been
tried out even on the TV band where the "White Space" supposedly exists
(maybe we should call it "Blank Space"). On FM it equates to the BBC
sub-bands, elsewhere on FM its a pig's breakfast in cities so less than
half the 20 MHz may be available.  However, why not? We could "White
Space" hundreds of community radio stations in London and the
"interested company" running the database could be the CMA! They could
open a London Office....

Regards,  Tony Bailey

London Chinese Radio wrote:
> I notice that they keep talking about "existing" FM stations.
> Does this mean that they won't be considering allowing new stations on to
> the airwaves?
> 
> A clear picture is emerging that it is not merely about inefficient
> management of currently available frequency space, and more about limiting
> the amount of stations that can go on air.
> 
> Furthermore, this would be consistent with attitudes from the BBC and the
> commercial radio sector, which clearly exert a heavy influence on Ofcom, a
> regulator captive to external commercial and political interests.
> 
> 
> Peter Vautier
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 5:41 PM, Clive Glover <clive.glover at lineone.net>wrote:
> 
>> The full Press Notice by OFCOM dated 6 July is:
>>
>> Ofcom considers future of FM radio band
>>
>> July 6, 2011
>>   Ofcom today proposed an innovative new use for the airwaves that will be
>> freed up following the UK’s switch from analogue to digital radio.
>>
>> Speaking at the Radio Centre members’ conference today, Ofcom Chief
>> Executive, Ed Richards, identified White Space Devices as potential new
>> users of the freed up FM radio airwaves. These devices could use these
>> frequencies to deliver innovative applications such as mobile broadband in
>> very sparsely populated areas.
>>
>> The technology works by identifying unoccupied radio waves called “white
>> spaces” to transmit and receive wireless signals.
>>
>> Compared with other forms of wireless technology, such as Bluetooth and
>> Wi-Fi, White Space Devices are being designed to use a much wider range of
>> frequencies, including the lower frequencies that have traditionally been
>> reserved for TV and radio.
>>
>> Ofcom has been leading the way in Europe to develop a system that would
>> allow these devices to work without interfering with other users of
>> spectrum. To date, this has focused on using the white spaces between
>> digital TV channels. However, in practice this technology could also work in
>> the FM radio band.
>>
>> Signals at these frequencies travel further and more easily through walls.
>>
>> Ed Richards said: “We believe that any release of new spectrum has great
>> potential to enable innovation and growth in new applications and services.”
>>
>>  “Spectrum is a resource that is in huge demand, fuelled by the recent
>> explosion in smart phones and other wireless technologies. However there is
>> only a limited amount of it to go around, which means we need to start
>> thinking more creatively about how it is used. White Space Devices could
>> offer an effective  solution.”
>>
>> *Digital radio switchover*
>>
>> It is anticipated that all large scale radio stations will migrate to
>> digital and eventually cease to broadcast on analogue FM radio. Smaller
>> stations are expected to remain on FM.
>>
>> This is expected to free up  as much as 50% of the capacity currently used
>> to deliver FM radio services and has raised questions as to what this
>> capacity will be used for.
>>
>> “Our first principle has to be that any future use of the FM band is an
>> efficient use of radio spectrum,” said Ed Richards.
>>
>> “There must be certainty for smaller and community stations, that do not
>> move across to DAB. These will continue to play their important role, and FM
>> is an appropriate technology for the scale at which they operate.”
>>
>> *Protecting the radio industry*
>>
>> Ed Richards explained that White Space Devices offered a solution that
>> could safeguard the interests of the radio industry by making it less likely
>> that it was backfilled with new commercial and pirate radio stations.
>>
>> “White Space Devices offer a creative solution that would not only use
>> spectrum to its full capacity, but would also work along side existing
>> smaller FM radio stations. This could be done without causing interference
>> and without any commercial conflict.”
>>
>> “This approach not only would spur on technological innovation but it could
>> also further restrict the opportunity for pirates to fill in the gaps caused
>> by careful spectrum planning.”
>>
>> *White space technology*
>>
>> On 9 November 2010, Ofcom launched a consultation on the processes needed
>> to successfully launch the technology and how new devices will be made
>> available to consumers without the need for a licence. This was based on
>> using white spaces between digital TV channels, however it could also be
>> extended to use white spaces in the FM radio band. Ofcom expects to publish
>> a statement concluding its thinking in the area of digital TV white spaces
>> shortly.
>>
>> *White space database*
>>
>> It is important that white space devices do not interfere with other
>> wireless technologies that share these frequencies. The solution is for
>> devices to do this by consulting a “geolocation database” that contains live
>> information about which frequencies are free to use at their current
>> location.
>>
>> Ofcom expects to make it possible for interested companies to host such
>> databases.
>>
>> *How the technology will work*
>>
>> Some white space applications will work in a similar way to Wi-Fi, which
>> uses a wireless router to send and receive information to other wireless
>> devices. A key difference is that the white space router or base station
>> will first need to consult a list of databases hosted online. It will
>> describe its location and device characteristics to one of these databases
>> on a regular basis. The database will then return details of the frequencies
>> and power levels the router is allowed to use so that it does not interfere
>> with other devices operating in its vicinity.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>>
>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
>> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Mailing list guidelines:
>> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> 
> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> _______________________________________________
> 
> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

-- 

Local Reports and Vintage Tunes 24/7 at www.ravensoundradio.co.uk

Raven Sound PO Box 1062 Bromley BR1 9QA UK
Tel: (020) 8466 8060  Int: + 44 20 84 66 80 60
Skype: ravensound

Raven Sound is a voluntary sector community media project

This email is for the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. If you
are not the intended recipient please notify the sender by reply email
and immediately delete this email. No guarantee is provided that this
email or any attachments are free of viruses.