NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: September 14, 2011 Neil Grace, (202) 418-0506 Email: Neil.Grace@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES PUBLIC TESTING OF FIRST TELEVISION WHITE SPACES DATABASE FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology Issues Public Notice to Start Public Testing for Spectrum Bridge’s TV White Spaces Database System Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice announcing that the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) will commence a 45-day public trial of Spectrum Bridge Inc.’s TV band database system, beginning September 19, 2011. Unused spectrum between TV stations—called white spaces—represents a valuable opportunity for our changing wireless mobile landscape. This block of spectrum is powerful platform for innovation and experimental use, holding rich potential for research and commercial purposes. The result of white spaces innovation has already led to a wave of new consumer technologies, including wi-fi and other innovations like baby monitors and cordless phones that have generated billions in economic growth. Commission rules require that unlicensed TV band devices contact an authorized database system to obtain a list of channels that are available for their operation (i.e., channels not occupied by authorized radio services) at their individual locations and must operate only on those channels. The limited trial is intended to allow the public to access and test Spectrum Bridge’s database system to ensure that it correctly identifies channels that are available for unlicensed TV band devices, properly registers those facilities entitled to protection, and provides protection to authorized services and registered facilities as specified in the rules. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “Unleashing white spaces spectrum will enable a new wave of wireless innovation. It has the potential to exceed the billions of dollars in economic benefit from wi-fi, the last significant release of unlicensed spectrum, and drive private investment and job creation.” Parties may participate in the trial by accessing Spectrum Bridge’s TV band database test facility at http://whitespaces.spectrumbridge.com/Trial.aspx. The trial of the Spectrum Bridge database system is scheduled to last for 45 days and will end on November 2, 2011. During this trial, participants are encouraged to test the channel availability calculator; the cable headend and broadcast auxiliary temporary receive site registration utilities; and the wireless microphone registration utility to ensure that each of these elements of the database system is working properly and providing the interference protection required under our rules. In addition, participants are encouraged to report any inaccuracies or other issues with any aspect of the database system to Spectrum Bridge through the response facility on the trial’s website. Spectrum Bridge will respond, as appropriate, to such reports with an explanation and notification of any responsive actions it may take, as appropriate. During the trial, Spectrum Bridge may apply any corrective measures it determines are needed and will advise participants of such measures through the trial’s website. Participants are also encouraged to report any inaccuracies or other issues with any aspect of the database system to Spectrum Bridge through the response facility on the trial’s website, which will make modifications as appropriate. After the close of the trial, Spectrum Bridge will provide a summary report to OET that identifies problems reported and their disposition, as well as descriptions of changes made to the channel availability calculator or registration systems. Read the Public Notice here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1534A1.doc. --FCC--