WASHINGTON: The FCC today issued a call for proposals to manage the white-space database. The purpose of the database is to prevent interference between unlicensed devices and incumbent TV facilities. The unlicensed devices that will soon operate in taboo TV channels are required to check a database of where TV stations, BAS operations and other broadcast entities are using spectrum.
“The database will tell a TV band device which TV channels are vacant and can be used at its location,” the FCC’s call for proposals states. “The database also will be used to register the locations of fixed TV band devices and protected locations and channels of incumbent services that are not recorded in commission databases.”
The commission determined in its white-space proceeding to “designate one or more database administrators from the private sector to create and operate TV band database(s), which will be a privately owned and operated service. Database administrators may charge fees to register fixed TV band devices and temporary broadcast auxiliary fixed links and to provide lists of available channels to TV band devices.
“Proposals must address how the basic components of a TV band database as required by the commission’s rules will be satisfied--i.e., a data repository, a data registration process, and a query process--and whether the proponent seeks to provide all or only some of these functions and affirm that the database service will comply with all of the applicable rules.”
Proposals are due Jan. 4, 2010; comments are due Feb. 3, 2010 and replies, Feb. 18, 2010.
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