FCC: ‘Super Wi-Fi’ could be a year away

Associated Press

A new flavor of Wi-Fi, with longer range and wall-piercing power, could show up in wireless gadgets a year from now if the Federal Communications Commission works out the last details of new spectrum rules that have been long in the making.

Nearly two years ago, the FCC voted to open up the airwaves between broadcast TV channels — so-called “white spaces” — for wireless broadband connections that would work like Wi-Fi on steroids. But wrangling over key technical details, including concerns about interference with TV signals and wireless microphones, has prevented exploitation of these spaces.

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Phoebe Yang to advise FCC chairman on broadband

The Hill

Phoebe Yang will serve as senior adviser to Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski on broadband issues, according to an FCC announcement on Monday.

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Broadband is in the eye of the beholder

Blandin on Broadband

So the FCC recently changed their definition of broadband. To those of us who think about broadband everyday that’s a big deal.

But what does it mean to the regular Joe in Moorhead? Dave Peters (of MRP’s Ground Level) asked some of the Minnesota Ultra High Speed Task Force folks about that.

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Agencies cataloging nation's radio spectrum

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Federal officials are beginning work on a comprehensive inventory of the nation's radio spectrum in hopes of finding more capacity for wireless high-speed Internet connections.

The Federal Communications Commission said it is working with the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration to catalog spectrum usage.

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After Republican letter, majority of Congress oppose FCC plan

Hillicon Valley (The Hill's technology blog)

A majority of lawmakers have lined up against the FCC's plan to wield greater power over broadband companies.

A group of 171 House Republicans on Friday joined Democratic critics in opposing the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to classify broadband as a telecommunication service, which they suggested was a power grab.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who is spearheading the reclassification, the Republicans reproached his ambition and said only Congress should decide where to classify broadband services.

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