Doug Lung / 09.07.2012 02:54PM
RF Shorts - Sept. 7, 2012
A review of RF-related news over the past week
FCC Appears
Ready to Consider Incentive Auctions
Nextgov.com
reported last
week that the FCC would be likely to take up its incentive auction plan shortly.
Juliana Gruenwald writes: “The FCC
appears set to vote on a proposed rulemaking implementing the ‘incentive
auctions’ authorized by Congress in legislation signed into law earlier this
year. An FCC spokesman would not confirm whether the incentive auction item
will be on the agenda for September’s meeting, but several industry sources said
they expect the commission will take up the issue at the meeting.”
This would likely happen at the next Open Commission Meeting
scheduled for Sept. 28. The article notes, “NAB has called on the FCC to ensure
the rules implementing the incentive auction legislation are ‘transparent,’
will ensure that broadcasters who do not participate can retain their service
areas, and will give broadcasters ‘ample time’ to consider whether to
participate in the process.”
[Ed. note: The Washington Post
reported today that the FCC would put forth its plan today, Sept. 7.]
KVH Antenna
Provides Yachts With Sat Internet
Yachtandboat.com.au described another option maritime
customers will have for accessing the Internet while at sea in the article
KVH Introduces
New TracPhone V7-IP for mini VSAT Broadband Service.
The article states: “In its latest initiative to
advance the quality, speed and affordability of broadband data connectivity at
sea, KVH Industries Inc. introduces a revolutionary new onboard terminal for
its industry-leading mini-VSAT Broadband service, the TracPhone V7-IP … the
TracPhone V7-IP features a robust, three-axis, gyro-stabilized antenna and a
completely integrated below-decks unit that includes an ArcLight spread
spectrum modem and KVH’s breakthrough new IP-enabled antenna control unit—the
CommBox-ACU—which includes a built-in CommBox Ship/Shore Network Manager, Voice
over IP (VoIP) adapter, Ethernet switch and Wi-Fi adapter.
The new system is on display at the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine
Technology (SMM) international trade fair in Hamburg, Germany. The system uses
an interlaced network of 14 Ku-band satellite transponders to provide seamless
worldwide coverage north of the equator and around all major continents,
including most major shipping routes south of the equator. Additional coverage
is available through three global C-band transponders.
Comments
and RF related news items are welcome. Email me at
dlung@transmitter.com.