[cma-l] The Future of FM Band

Sat Jul 9 10:34:09 BST 2011

I don't see it as employing another/different technology.
It's simply fitting something that will potentailly generate revenue into locally-unused spectrum - which is presumably what the term "white space" is intended to refer to.
It already exists in the UHF television Band IV and V allocation of 470 to 860 MHz for example in that locally-unoccupied TV channels can be licensed by JFMG for PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) use.

------------------------------------
Ian Hickling
Partner

> Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 09:45:23 +0100
> From: studio at ravensoundradio.co.uk
> To: admin at londonhuayu.co.uk
> CC: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] OFCOM Press Release - Future of FM Band
> 
> 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.
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20110709/a30cc2af/attachment.html>