GOOGLE PETITION IGNORES TV INTERFERENCE ISSUES

-- Google's 13,000 signatures vs. 113 million TV households --
-- Microsoft engineer: White space device "just stopped working" --

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Association of Broadcasters today issued a statement in response to Google's claim that 13,000 petitions have been signed in support of allowing the introduction of unlicensed wireless devices in the television band.

Noting that 113 million homes in the U.S. typically watch television more than eight hours per day, NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton questioned the relevancy of the Google funded petition drive.

"It's worth asking whether 13,000 petitions are more important than retaining interference protections for 113 million TV-watching homes," said Wharton. "All the petition drives in the world cannot mask the fact that Google's own allies have admitted that these devices don't work. Absent proven interference protection, Google's gamble on the future of television is not a risk Americans should be asked to take."

Joining television broadcasters in expressing concern over the interference-causing devices are sports leagues, Broadway theater groups, cable operators and networks, wireless microphone manufacturers and religious groups.

A July 2007 FCC report concluded that sample prototype 'white space' devices did not accurately detect broadcast signals and caused interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones. That setback was followed by a February 2008 power failure, in which a Microsoft representative admitted that their prototype device "just stopped working." In March, another Microsoft device "unexpectedly shut down," according to a Microsoft press release.

To date, 70 lawmakers have expressed concern over the use of unlicensed personal-portable devices in the broadcast spectrum, including:

About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. As the voice of more than 8,300 radio and television stations, NAB advances their interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

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