Broadcasters again squared off against high-technology companies over petitions for reconsideration of the FCC's November white- spaces order. The commission probably won't resolve the question until a permanent chairman arrives, officials said. The rules shouldn't throw up obstacles to easy use of the spectrum, high tech companies said. But the NAB and the Association for Maximum Service Television fired back that the petitions "present the Commission with a clear choice between, on the one hand, efficient but prudent spectrum management, and, on the other hand, permissive policies that disregard destructive, harmful interference to licensed services." The sides don't even agree on the name for devices that would use the white spaces. Google and other proponents call them white spaces devices. Broadcasters use a term that portrays them as intruders: TV band devices. nnGoogle, a leading supporter of opening the white spaces, said the FCC should drop a requirement for wireless-microphone sensing that would keep devices from turning on until a geolocation database shows that a channel is clear. The requirement is "overprotective and will significantly undermine the viability and promise of innovative TV White Spaces services," Google said. Microsoft and Dell said the FCC doesn't need to impose additional protections. "The Commission's white spaces rules are a 'cautious and conservative' first step with numerous safeguards to protect incumbent licensees," the companies said. "These rules provide much more protection for incumbents than is legally or technically necessary." They agreed with Google that broadcasters and other incumbents of the band have an ulterior motive in asking for additional restrictions: "All would thwart the Commission's goal of building on the success of Wi-Fi by providing the public with access to the higher quality unlicensed spectrum experience that white space technologies will deliver."
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