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I don't see it as employing another/different technology.<BR>
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.<BR>
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.<BR><BR>
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<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><B><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(38,38,38)">Ian Hickling<BR></SPAN></B><B><SPAN>Partner<BR><BR></SPAN></B></P><BR>
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> Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 09:45:23 +0100<BR>> From: studio@ravensoundradio.co.uk<BR>> To: admin@londonhuayu.co.uk<BR>> CC: cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] OFCOM Press Release - Future of FM Band<BR>> <BR>> You cynic Peter. Bear in mind I don't think this technology has been<BR>> tried out even on the TV band where the "White Space" supposedly exists<BR>> (maybe we should call it "Blank Space"). On FM it equates to the BBC<BR>> sub-bands, elsewhere on FM its a pig's breakfast in cities so less than<BR>> half the 20 MHz may be available. However, why not? We could "White<BR>> Space" hundreds of community radio stations in London and the<BR>> "interested company" running the database could be the CMA! They could<BR>> open a London Office....<BR>> <BR>> Regards, Tony Bailey<BR>> <BR>> London Chinese Radio wrote:<BR>> > I notice that they keep talking about "existing" FM stations.<BR>> > Does this mean that they won't be considering allowing new stations on to<BR>> > the airwaves?<BR>> > <BR>> > A clear picture is emerging that it is not merely about inefficient<BR>> > management of currently available frequency space, and more about limiting<BR>> > the amount of stations that can go on air.<BR>> > <BR>> > Furthermore, this would be consistent with attitudes from the BBC and the<BR>> > commercial radio sector, which clearly exert a heavy influence on Ofcom, a<BR>> > regulator captive to external commercial and political interests.<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > Peter Vautier<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 5:41 PM, Clive Glover <clive.glover@lineone.net>wrote:<BR>> > <BR>> >> The full Press Notice by OFCOM dated 6 July is:<BR>> >><BR>> >> Ofcom considers future of FM radio band<BR>> >><BR>> >> July 6, 2011<BR>> >> Ofcom today proposed an innovative new use for the airwaves that will be<BR>> >> freed up following the UK’s switch from analogue to digital radio.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Speaking at the Radio Centre members’ conference today, Ofcom Chief<BR>> >> Executive, Ed Richards, identified White Space Devices as potential new<BR>> >> users of the freed up FM radio airwaves. These devices could use these<BR>> >> frequencies to deliver innovative applications such as mobile broadband in<BR>> >> very sparsely populated areas.<BR>> >><BR>> >> The technology works by identifying unoccupied radio waves called “white<BR>> >> spaces” to transmit and receive wireless signals.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Compared with other forms of wireless technology, such as Bluetooth and<BR>> >> Wi-Fi, White Space Devices are being designed to use a much wider range of<BR>> >> frequencies, including the lower frequencies that have traditionally been<BR>> >> reserved for TV and radio.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Ofcom has been leading the way in Europe to develop a system that would<BR>> >> allow these devices to work without interfering with other users of<BR>> >> spectrum. To date, this has focused on using the white spaces between<BR>> >> digital TV channels. However, in practice this technology could also work in<BR>> >> the FM radio band.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Signals at these frequencies travel further and more easily through walls.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Ed Richards said: “We believe that any release of new spectrum has great<BR>> >> potential to enable innovation and growth in new applications and services.”<BR>> >><BR>> >> “Spectrum is a resource that is in huge demand, fuelled by the recent<BR>> >> explosion in smart phones and other wireless technologies. However there is<BR>> >> only a limited amount of it to go around, which means we need to start<BR>> >> thinking more creatively about how it is used. White Space Devices could<BR>> >> offer an effective solution.”<BR>> >><BR>> >> *Digital radio switchover*<BR>> >><BR>> >> It is anticipated that all large scale radio stations will migrate to<BR>> >> digital and eventually cease to broadcast on analogue FM radio. Smaller<BR>> >> stations are expected to remain on FM.<BR>> >><BR>> >> This is expected to free up as much as 50% of the capacity currently used<BR>> >> to deliver FM radio services and has raised questions as to what this<BR>> >> capacity will be used for.<BR>> >><BR>> >> “Our first principle has to be that any future use of the FM band is an<BR>> >> efficient use of radio spectrum,” said Ed Richards.<BR>> >><BR>> >> “There must be certainty for smaller and community stations, that do not<BR>> >> move across to DAB. These will continue to play their important role, and FM<BR>> >> is an appropriate technology for the scale at which they operate.”<BR>> >><BR>> >> *Protecting the radio industry*<BR>> >><BR>> >> Ed Richards explained that White Space Devices offered a solution that<BR>> >> could safeguard the interests of the radio industry by making it less likely<BR>> >> that it was backfilled with new commercial and pirate radio stations.<BR>> >><BR>> >> “White Space Devices offer a creative solution that would not only use<BR>> >> spectrum to its full capacity, but would also work along side existing<BR>> >> smaller FM radio stations. This could be done without causing interference<BR>> >> and without any commercial conflict.”<BR>> >><BR>> >> “This approach not only would spur on technological innovation but it could<BR>> >> also further restrict the opportunity for pirates to fill in the gaps caused<BR>> >> by careful spectrum planning.”<BR>> >><BR>> >> *White space technology*<BR>> >><BR>> >> On 9 November 2010, Ofcom launched a consultation on the processes needed<BR>> >> to successfully launch the technology and how new devices will be made<BR>> >> available to consumers without the need for a licence. This was based on<BR>> >> using white spaces between digital TV channels, however it could also be<BR>> >> extended to use white spaces in the FM radio band. Ofcom expects to publish<BR>> >> a statement concluding its thinking in the area of digital TV white spaces<BR>> >> shortly.<BR>> >><BR>> >> *White space database*<BR>> >><BR>> >> It is important that white space devices do not interfere with other<BR>> >> wireless technologies that share these frequencies. The solution is for<BR>> >> devices to do this by consulting a “geolocation database” that contains live<BR>> >> information about which frequencies are free to use at their current<BR>> >> location.<BR>> >><BR>> >> Ofcom expects to make it possible for interested companies to host such<BR>> >> databases.<BR>> >><BR>> >> *How the technology will work*<BR>> >><BR>> >> Some white space applications will work in a similar way to Wi-Fi, which<BR>> >> uses a wireless router to send and receive information to other wireless<BR>> >> devices. A key difference is that the white space router or base station<BR>> >> will first need to consult a list of databases hosted online. It will<BR>> >> describe its location and device characteristics to one of these databases<BR>> >> on a regular basis. The database will then return details of the frequencies<BR>> >> and power levels the router is allowed to use so that it does not interfere<BR>> >> with other devices operating in its vicinity.<BR>> >><BR>> >> _______________________________________________<BR>> >><BR>> >> Reply - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> >><BR>> >> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community<BR>> >> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> >> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>> >> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>> >> _______________________________________________<BR>> >><BR>> >> Mailing list guidelines:<BR>> >> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>> >> _______________________________________________<BR>> >><BR>> >> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> >> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR>> >><BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > <BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > <BR>> > Reply - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> > <BR>> > The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> > Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> > http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>> > Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > <BR>> > Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > <BR>> > To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> > http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -- <BR>> <BR>> Local Reports and Vintage Tunes 24/7 at www.ravensoundradio.co.uk<BR>> <BR>> Raven Sound PO Box 1062 Bromley BR1 9QA UK<BR>> Tel: (020) 8466 8060 Int: + 44 20 84 66 80 60<BR>> Skype: ravensound<BR>> <BR>> Raven Sound is a voluntary sector community media project<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> This email is for the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. If you<BR>> are not the intended recipient please notify the sender by reply email<BR>> and immediately delete this email. No guarantee is provided that this<BR>> email or any attachments are free of viruses.<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Reply - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> <BR>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR></DIV> </div></body>
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