Tech Firms to Develop Guidelines for White Spaces Database

Seven technology companies have announced that they are working together to facilitate the timely creation and operation of a white spaces database to govern use of the USA's vacant television broadband spectrum, commonly known as TV white spaces.

Founding members of the White Spaces Database Group include Comsearch, Dell, Google, HP, Microsoft Corporation, Motorola and NeuStar.

The Group intends to establish data formats and protocols that are open and non-proprietary and will advocate that database administration be open and non-exclusive.

In November 2008, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the use of white spaces spectrum by unlicensed devices. Pursuant to that decision, white spaces devices will be required to access a white spaces database to determine available channels before transmit capabilities are engaged. After eight months of thorough laboratory and field-testing, the Commission established geo-location based methods are fully adept at identifying television signals and preventing interference.

Posted to the site on 4th February 2009