MDTV Review

Would the FCC Broadband Plan prevent over-the-air broadcaster’s from deploying Mobile DTV (MDTV)?  Not so, says FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

“Under the incentive auction plan, broadcasters will be able to provide mobile DTV, both licensees that choose to retain all 6 Megahertz, and those that choose to share,”

Genachowski addressed many concerns by broadcasters last month at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters Show; including the “voluntary” spectrum auction in which broadcasters could participate in by “choice”.

The auction is part of a five-year plan for spectrum reclamation and allocation to wireless companies, so that they may continue to offer wireless services for mobile users with products such as smart phones, netbooks, and laptops.  The FCC believes that this action (along with others involved with the Broadband Plan), would help resolve the looming crisis for wireless companies.

Last Updated: 3-1-10

March 1st, 2010
FCC thinks broadcast spectrum has, “a massive amount of unlocked value” for wireless spectrum
Source: BroadcastEngineering.com
FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski, Julius Genachowski, recently commented on why some of the  TV broadcast spectrum should be considered for use by the wireless spectrum.

“a massive amount of unlocked value”

“About 300MHz of spectrum have been set aside for broadcast TV,”

“In markets with less than 1 million people, only 36MHz are typically used for broadcasting. In cities with more than 1 million people, on average about 100MHz are used. Even in our very largest cities, at most only about 150MHz out of 300MHz are used.”

The FCC recently proposed a voluntary plan for broadcasters to  give up some of their spectrum with the benefit of receiving compensation, but the National Association of Broadcasters have claimed that the recent rollout of mobile digital television, MDTV, will utilize some of the unused spectrum.

What’s new in the world of Mobile DTV? Lots. For starers, FLO TV (mobile TV pay service), scored mega buzz with their Super Bowl commercials last Sunday. One starring CBS sportscaster Jim Nants who gives an injury report on a man shopping with his wife,

and the other featuring historical events caught on live TV with a small cameo from Will.I.Am,

Both commercials were hot topics on for days on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and the blogoshpere.

FCC to pay broadcasters for networks?

Newsweek mentioned yesterday that the FCC is considering paying broadcasters to take some of the valuable TV broadcast spectrum to satisfy the growing needs of cell phone providers.  continue reading…