Digital broadcasting instead of airwaves by Barbora Misakova

A big change with broadcasting transition, which is going to become digital had started being realized after more than 10 years. This Thursday starts auctioning off the airwaves which should bring billions for the U.S. Treasury. By words of Kevin Martin, Federal Communications Commission Chairman, this one auction is the most important of all auctions which is going to be made in foreseeable future. These airwaves are these days used by television UHF. This airwaves system was called by analysts "beach-front property" and it enable carry information on long distances and even penetrate walls. After transition on digital broadcasting these airwaves should be used for emergency communications which need they space badly. Martin is very optimistic about this new idea, he even calls it "key building block" which should provide wireless Internet services so customers will be able to anything ranging from watching TV to transmit plenty of data, doesn't matter when and where they need to. But there are also skeptical ones who are not so optimistic about it. First of all there is that withdrawal of a firm responsible for constructing a national public network, and then the second reason of their skepticism is that more than 70 percent of Americans have no clue what is this good for. If everything works as it should more than $15 billion is expected to be brought from this auction and this money should be also effectively used. First of all a part of them should go to the general fund which will help to offset the federal budged deficit, another amount will be invested into coupon program. But much more funds will be used for emergency communications' grants and improving communication among public safety agencies. Commission also planed to create a public safety communications network. The plans are big but it all depends on money and bidders. One of the bidders was Frontline Wireless LLC which should make a bid of more than $1 billion, but it failed. So the new bidder, able to pay for and construct this public network, is expected. If anyone is able to offer at least $ 4.6 billion bid it will be a winner.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_hi_te/spectrum_auction;_ylt=AudeAaUp8zDm6GARUZnyGx.s0NUE

by Barbora Misakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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