Baker Highlights the Use of White Space in Innovation

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2010 – With Spectrum playing a large role in the National Broadband Plan one of the biggest sources for open spectrum is the White space which was created by the recent DTV transition. Yesterday FCC Commissioner Baker addressed the TV White Spaces Summit.

Commissioner Baker reiterated the Commissions belief that spectrum is the best resource for broadband expansion and innovation. She did however lament the inaction by the FCC on the issue: “I find it a little ironic, and a little regretful, that other regulators, notably in the EU, as well as in countries like Singapore, are poised to act in an area where we once took the lead but have not been able to act since.”

She then went onto describe a number of projects which use spectrum including the Smart City project; which involves the remote reading of utilities.

The commissioner also emphasized the need for an inventory, “We need to start with a spectrum inventory—we don’t need to wait for Congress, so I hope we get started with that soon.  We need an innovative, interactive and user-friendly data base that will not only serve the TV white spaces but also other spectrum bands, including government spectrum and NATO bands.”