RF Shorts for March 20, 2014

By Doug Lung
published

Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Supports FCC Spectrum Sharing Proposals

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) issued a News Release announcing its first filing to support FCC Spectrum Sharing Proposals. "

A key function of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance is to engage with governments and regulators around the world on how to use new dynamic spectrum sharing technologies to address key policy challenges," said Paul Garnett, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance chairman of the board and director of technology policy at Microsoft. "We hope that the FCC will move quickly over the next few months adopt and implement new regulations allowing for dynamic access to spectrum in the 600 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 5 GHz bands."

Regarding the 600 MHz band, DSA stated: "Sufficient usable unlicensed spectrum must remain available in 600 MHz bands. When allocating the spectrum made available as a result of the digital television transition and repacking the 600 MHz broadcast bands, the Commission should strike the right balance between exclusive-use licensed access and non-exclusive, open, unlicensed access."

DSA members include Adaptrum, BskyB, Google, Mediatek, and Microsoft as well as several other companies working with white space and wireless networks. For more information on the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, visit its website at http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/.

FCC Still Granting LPTV and TV Translator Construction Permits

The upcoming Incentive Auctions and post-auction TV repacking has not stopped the FCC from processing pending low-power television and translator construction permits. In Report PGL-14-2 proposed construction permits include an LPTV on Channel 45 in Los Angeles, Calif. for Venture Technologies Group, a translator on Channel 21 in Newberry Springs, Calif. for County of San Bernardino Area 40, and a Channel 39 low power in Palm Springs, Calif. for Miriam Media, Inc. Other proposed construction permits are for Channel 14 in Marquette, Mich. (WLUC Licensee, LLC), Channel 7 in Helena, Mount. (Northwest Investment Corporation), and Channel 16 in Cleveland, Ohio (Media-Com Television, Inc.)

Comments and RF related news items are welcome. Email me at dlung@transmitter.com.

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.