DrewClark.com

Even after the transition to digital television, broadcasters will still be sitting on a gold-mine of frequencies that are badly underutilized. Less than 13 percent of Americans receive their television over-the-air, and providing subsidies to get this segment of the population to take cable or satellite would be less costly than the opportunity cost of broadcasters continuing to use the band.

Option 1 (Status Quo):

Currently have

402 Megahertz.

(minus)
In the transition to DTV they are giving up

108 Megahertz.

____________

Remaining spectrum is

294 Megahertz.

A portion of the 108 Megahertz that is being given up was auctioned off earlier this year by the FCC. This 60 Megahertz block fetched almost $20 billion for the government. Most of the rest is being devoted for public safety communications.

Broadcasters would like to stick with the status quo. What are the spectrum options once broadcasters leave channels 52-69, on February 19, 2009?

Option 2 (White Spaces Co-exist with Broadcasters):

Remaining spectrum is

294 Megahertz.

(minus)
Broadcasters use, in the average market with about 15 channels

~90 Megahertz.

____________

Spectrum available in the white spaces of the average market is

~204 Megahertz.

Because this 200+ Megahertz is only available on a market-by-market basis, it cannot be deployed as effectively as it would be if broadcasters completely cleared the band, spectrum experts say.

Option 3 (Clear the Broadcasters):

Remaining spectrum is

294 Megahertz.

(minus the total of)
Five blocks of about ~50 Megahertz are

50 Megahertz
50 Megahertz
50 Megahertz
50 Megahertz
44 Megahertz.

____________

Remaining spectrum available for unlicensed is

50 Megahertz.

Keep in mind that this would be 50 Megahertz of cleared, nation-wide spectrum — extremely valuable, and extremely usable, for wireless broadband.

Understanding the options is the first step in knowing what to do make better use of the television bands.

Return to Google, the NAB, and a Third Way in the White Spaces Debate.