NAB, APTS, WISPA Battle on DTS Recon
Microsoft’s petition for reconsideration of FCC ATSC 3.0 distributed transmission system rules doesn’t make a legitimate case, commented NAB and America’s Public Television Stations by Tuesday's deadline in docket 20-74. Microsoft and TV white space advocates “have simply failed to…
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deploy the technology at scale to provide any meaningful level of service,” the groups said. Allowing the DTS order to move forward would undercut FCC efforts to pave the way for white space devices, said the Wireless ISP Association, the only other commenter by Wednesday afternoon. The DTS order runs counter to statements from acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks that support the waiver process for DTS pushed by Microsoft, WISPA said. “The Order authorizes significant 'spillover'" of DTS "signals into adjacent white space areas, increasing the potential for harmful interference and limiting the areas where white space devices can be deployed.” Microsoft’s argument the new rules would let stations use DTS to provide service equivalent to the largest station in a market is “incorrect,” NAB and APTS said. Reconsideration would prioritize the unlicensed white space tech over 3.0 efforts of licensed broadcast spectrum holders, said NAB and APTS. Microsoft grossly inflated the use and efficacy of white space devices, they said. “There are slightly over 300 actual white spaces devices operating in the entire United States,” said the broadcast groups. “Many states do not have even a single white space device operating.” Microsoft didn’t comment.