The New York City Council has scheduled a hearing for September 29 on the unused TV channels known as "white spaces." If, like most low-income New Yorkers, you rely on your cellular phone more than a landline or a laptop or a desktop, then your whole communications future is at stake with this issue. If you hate your cell phone provider or you like the idea of sharing Internet connections, then this is for you.
Right now there are unused television channels and spaces in between channels with nothing on them. These open channels are called white spaces. This is an incredibly valuable and untapped public resource. New digital broadcasting technology would allow us to use the white spaces for cheaper, better mobile phones and clearer, better wi-fi signals. The New York City Council is considering a resolution on this issue that they will send to the Federal Communications Commission, which is set to rule in mid-October on whether or not to grant public access to the white spaces.
The problem is that the television broadcasters and wireless micrphone manufacturers don't want to give up those channels, even though they're not using them. So we need to get out to this hearing and tell the City Council and the FCC to open the airwaves.
Monday, September 29, 2008, 10:00 am
City Hall, the Committee Room
This is a public hearing. Everyone there who wants to speak will be allowed to speak. If you have questions or you cannot be there but would still like to make your voice heard, please contact us.
Please contact your City Council member and encourage her or him to attend the hearing.