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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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March
28, 2008
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Dennis
Wharton
202-429-5350
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STRIKE
THREE FOR WHITE SPACE DEVICE
--
Microsoft says newest device "unexpectedly shut down" --
WASHINGTON,
DC -- NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton released the following
statement today upon learning that an unlicensed personal-portable prototype
device submitted by Microsoft to the FCC for testing failed. This recent
failure marks the third setback for proponents of the so-called 'white
space' devices.
"In
baseball, it's three strikes and you're out," said Wharton. "How
many strikes does Microsoft get? If they can't get the device to work
in the lab, how are they going to get it to work in the real world?"
The incident
follows a February
2008 power failure, as well as a July
2007 FCC report, which concluded that sample prototype 'white space'
devices did not accurately detect broadcast signals and caused interference
to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones.
Microsoft
issued the following statement (emphasis added) today:
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For
Immediate Release
March
28, 2008
Statement
by Microsoft
REDMOND,
Wash. — March 28, 2008 — The testing phase of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)’s white spaces rulemaking continues
to provide the FCC with the data it needs to make an informed decision.
Microsoft Corp. believes that the FCC’s final report will confirm
that the unlicensed use of white spaces will bring exciting new
as well as needed technologies such as mesh networks, broadband
access in remote areas, wireless hot spots and other broadband devices
and services.
Microsoft,
along with other companies, took the extraordinary step of submitting
test devices to the FCC to help the FCC gather information and establish
final rules. The Microsoft devices were designed and developed by
a third party for white spaces research purposes only and are not
production or go-to-market devices. The Microsoft device has
been delivering meaningful results over several weeks but unexpectedly
shut down on March 26.
Although
this is disappointing to us, we have every confidence that the FCC
has many avenues available to finish gathering the information it
needs to develop final white spaces rules and allow a variety of
services and devices to effectively use the white spaces. The FCC
has tremendous technical expertise and will continue to rely on
its own substantive knowledge. Second, it is currently testing other
devices and will be able to obtain the necessary information from
those devices. It can also undertake its own testing with conventional
equipment. Third, before any device enters the marketplace the FCC
will put that device through its certification process and make
its own determination that the device will not interfere with existing
licensed users such as broadcast and wireless microphone operations.
Microsoft
will continue to work with its partners in the White Spaces Coalition
to provide the FCC with all the support it needs during the rule-making
process, including further exploration of the recent proposal made
at the FCC that reflects some of the coalition’s thinking on
the use of spectrum-sensing technology and beacons.
White
spaces technology will transform the way Americans access and use
the Internet, regardless of where they live. We look forward to
the FCC’s adoption of final rules that will enable innovators
to bring new broadband products and services to the market.
Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader
in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
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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 a trade association that advocates
on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations
and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications
Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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