[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 63 (Thursday, April 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WIRELESS INNOVATION ACT, H.R. 1597

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                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2007

  Mr. INSLEE. Madam Speaker, there will be under-utilized wireless 
spectrum in the gaps or ``white spaces'' between TV broadcast channels 
when the transition from analog to digital television is complete. 
These white spaces could provide broadband access to millions of 
Americans and enable a wide range of innovative wireless devices and 
services which cannot be utilized in other frequencies. White spaces 
spectrum must remain unlicensed because the availability of this 
``Swiss cheese'' pattern of spectrum nationally makes licensing it 
impractical. An unlicensed regime would also lead to a more efficient 
use of the frequencies.
  Unlicensed white spaces devices will avoid harmful interference with 
all incumbents. Cognitive radio uses spectrum sensing technology to 
identify and avoid occupied TV channels. This method has been approved 
by the Defense Department for unlicensed devices that share spectrum 
with military radar. This unlicensed spectrum can be used for wireless 
broadband, public safety communications, and numerous at-home and 
business devices.
  For the reasons listed above I have introduced the Wireless 
Innovation Act, H.R. 1597, which mandates that white spaces be used 
nonexclusively for unlicensed fixed or portable devices while mandating 
that incumbent licensees be protected from harmful interference. This 
legislation would provide interference protection to full power 
television, low power television, wireless microphones, and all other 
incumbent users of this spectrum. The bill also requires that the FCC 
permit use of unlicensed devices not later than February 18, 2009.

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