As part of its ongoing effort to increase the spectrum available for wireless broadband use, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken steps that may eventually allow broadband service operators to utilize spectrum formally allocated to television broadcasts.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued in November 2010, the Commission signaled its interest in voluntary broadcast spectrum auctions that would preserve spectrum for so-called over-the-air television while also providing additional spectrum for mobile broadband services. The Commission called for comments on its plans to establish new allocations for both fixed and mobile wireless services in these television broadcast bands.
In addition, the Commission’s NPRM called for comments on proposed rules that would enable television broadcasters to share channels by taking advantage of new technical capabilities, and also for comments on proposals to increase the transmitting power and establish minimum performance standards for indoor antennas, in order to improve television reception of VHF channels (2-13).