FCC: "Spectrum Dashboard", tutto lo spettro sul Web

L'approvazione di una legge della portata della riforma sanitaria negli Usa è affare di tutt'altra portata, ma nel suo piccolo il regolatore americano, la FCC (evidentemente il non dover pensare a bloccare i programmi scomodi in televisione lascia un po' di tempo disponibile per lavorare sul serio) ha rilasciato - ancora in versione beta - il suo Spectrum Dashboard, un cruscotto visuale attraverso il quale è possibile informarsi con un livello di dettaglio senza precedenti sull'uso delle spettro RF negli Stati Uniti. Per il momento è disponibile una porzione compresa tra i 225 e i 3.700 MHz allocata a servizi wireless a larga banda e naturalmente anche alla televisione. Contea per contea, frequenza per frequenza, si possono visualizzare le risorse disponibili e i licenziatari dei vari servizi. Uno strumento di straordinaria efficacia ora che la FCC si appresta a riallocare numerosi spazi lasciati liberi da servizi come la tv analogica a beneficio di quelli previsti nell'ambizioso piano nazionale per la larga banda proposto in questi giorni. Ve la immaginate un simile livello di trasparenza e informazione in una nazione come la nostra? No? Siete proprio dei disfattisti.

COMMISSION ANNOUNCES “BETA” LAUNCH OF SPECTRUM DASHBOARD

Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Federal Communications Commission announced the “beta” release of its Spectrum Dashboard. The Spectrum Dashboard allows users to more easily review how spectrum bands are allocated and used and also allows users to identify license holders in specific areas. The initial version released today provides information covering frequencies between 225 MHz and 3.7 GHz – the range of spectrum potentially usable for mobile broadband. In addition, the Spectrum Dashboard contains enhanced search, mapping and data download capabilities for licenses in the following services in that range: 700 MHz Band; Advanced Wireless Service (AWS); Broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS); Broadband Radio Service (BRS); Educational Broadband Service (EBS); Cellular; 2.3 GHz Wireless Communications Service (WCS); Full Power TV Broadcast; and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS).

The Spectrum Dashboard will increase transparency into how radio spectrum is being used in the United States. In conjunction with the release of the National Broadband Plan, the Spectrum Dashboard provides a resource for stakeholders who want to participate in the deployment of wireless broadband throughout the nation.

The Spectrum Dashboard may be accessed via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/spectrumdashboard. It allows users to browse, review and analyze spectrum data as it relates to broadband deployment, both at the local and national levels, by including four components that allow the public to:

· Browse spectrum bands: Users can search by spectrum range (e.g., 600 MHz to 900 MHz), by browsing an interactive spectrum chart, or by “tag” (e.g., Cellular, backhaul, Mobile, TV).

· Search for spectrum licenses: Users can search by name, geographic area or service. Because licenses are often held in names that are unfamiliar to the general public, we also include the capability to search by the “common name” (where data is available).

· Produce maps of spectrum licenses: Users can produce maps that depict 1) a geographic service area for individual licenses; 2) the total amount of spectrum licensed within a service on a county-by-county basis; or 3) the total amount of spectrum licensed to a specific licensee (including the common name, where available) on a county-by-county basis.

· Export raw data: Users can access the raw licensing data associated with a specific search in a format that allows for easy import into spreadsheets and other software for more detailed analysis. The data will include the total amount of spectrum held on a county-by-county basis for each license, including a reference to the common name (where available).

More information about the National Broadband Plan can be found at www.broadband.gov