Writing on the opinion page of “The New York Times” Feb. 9, Rep. Joseph Nadler, D-NY, urged the FCC to exercise caution as it considers allowing unlicensed white space devices (WSDs) to operate in the TV band.
In the editorial, the congressman, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, explained the potential for WSDs to interfere with DTV transmission as well as wireless communications in sports settings and the city’s theater district.
“We cannot let these new developments undermine television service or hurt key sectors of our entertainment industry,” Nadler wrote.
In the editorial, Nadler explained how unlicensed WSDs could interfere with DTV transmissions, effectively negating the billions of dollars that have and will be spent on new TV transmission equipment, DTV sets and the government-sponsored DTV converter box coupon program.
WSDs have the potential to interfere with televisions used for over-the-air reception by 45 million to 60 million people nationwide, he wrote. “Low-income households, the elderly and people living in multifamily buildings who don’t have cable service and rely on antenna systems could be prevented from watching their favorite programs and from receiving important emergency information,” Nadler wrote.
To read the congressman’s editorial, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/opinion/09nadler.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=nadler&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin.
