The Office of Engineering and Technology of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Google’s TV bands database system for operation, in an effort to facilitate the interference-free operation of unlicensed wireless devices operating in TV spectrum bands.
Under the Commission’s Part 15 rules, wireless devices that operate on unlicensed TV bands are required to reference an authorized database system to identify those channels that are available for interference-free operation. An authorized database accepts input from a device regarding its specific location, and then returns a list of channels available at that location for operation. In this way, the database protects authorized service transmitters from interference while facilitating the operation of unlicensed devices.
The FCC had authorized Google in early 2013 to conduct a public trial of the company’s TV bands database to provide an opportunity for the Commission and the public to assess the accuracy of the results being provided by the database.
Google says that its TV band database system will contribute to efforts to free up spectrum for dynamic sharing, and improve device connectivity globally.
Read the FCC’s press release announcing its approval of Google’s TV bands database system.
