[RTC List] Spectrum & rural/underserved areas

[Tina Nerat]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                        CONTACT:
Michael Calabrese or




JUNE 19, 2007
Naveen Lakshmipathy

       (202) 986-2700

 Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Open Vacant TV Channels for Wireless
Broadband

 

High-Tech, Consumer, Civil Rights, Education and Community Technology Groups
Support Unlicensed Access to TV 'White Space' for Wireless Innovation


(WASHINGTON, DC, 6/19/07)- Today the New America Foundation, along with a
broad-based coalition of high-tech industry and nonprofit groups, called on
Congress to ensure that unused TV band spectrum ("white space") is put to
use for affordable wireless broadband as soon and as fully as possible.  In
a
<http://www.newamerica.net/publications/resources/2007/coalition_letter_cong
ress_support_tv_white_space_legislation> letter sent to all members of
Congress, the coalition urged Congress to encourage the FCC to complete its
proceeding to permit unlicensed use of vacant channels in the television
band. 

The diverse coalition unites powerful high-tech corporations (including
Microsoft, Intel and Google) with national consumer groups, civil rights
groups, rural telecommunications providers, higher education institutions,
small businesses, community technology groups, and other public interest
advocates. 

The letter emphasized that opening the TV white spaces for unlicensed use
will "stimulate the development of innovative devices, enable more
economical broadband deployment in rural and other underserved areas, and
ensure the efficient utilization of unused 'beachfront' spectrum below 1
GHz."  It also notes that with existing technology, properly regulated
unlicensed access can allow intensive utilization of this valuable spectrum
without causing interference to licensed users such as television
broadcasting. 

For a list of the 29 organizations signed on to the letter, as well as a
copy of the letter, click
<http://www.newamerica.net/publications/resources/2007/coalition_letter_cong
ress_support_tv_white_space_legislation> here. 

New America's Wireless Future Program develops and advocates policy
proposals aimed at achieving universal and affordable wireless broadband
access, expanding public access to the airwaves and updating our nation's
communications infrastructure in the digital era. For more information,
visit www.spectrumpolicy.org <http://www.spectrumpolicy.org/> .

About New America Foundation 
The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, post-partisan, public policy
institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and
new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture
capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and
policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum.
Headquartered in our nation's capital, New America also has offices in
California and New York.

For more information on New America, please visit:
<http://www.newamerica.net/> web site. 

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