IP: Satellite radio companies withdraw 802.11 interference petition

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

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From: "Wong, Brian" <brianwong () dwt com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 13:47:10 -0700
To: "'Dave Farber'" <dave () farber net>
Subject: Satellite radio companies withdraw 802.11 interference petition

Dave, perhaps of interest.

- Brian - 


Satellite radio calls off wireless complaint

By Ben Charny <mailto:ben.charny () cnet com>
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
June 7, 2002, 10:20 AM PT

Two satellite radio stations are no longer trying to get federal regulators
to muzzle the transmissions of the growing number of wireless networks in
homes and offices using the 802.11 standards.

Satellite radio stations and 802.11 wireless networks both broadcast their
signals on radio waves separated by only a small buffer. So far, that buffer
has kept the millions of 802.11, or Wi-Fi, networks from interfering with
radio broadcasts by radio broadcasters Sirius Satellite Radio
<http://www.siriusradio.com/servlet/snav?/servlet/index.jsp>  or XM
Satellite Radio <http://www.xmradio.com> .

A representative for Sirius Satellite on Friday said the company had
withdrawn a petition to force controls on 802.11 signals, but she did not
comment further. An XM representative declined immediate comment.

Last year, the radio companies told the Federal Communications Commission
they didn't think the relative calm would last and asked the agency to step
in. Within a few years, they said, interference from the huge number of
people using Wi-Fi's signal will bleed through that buffer and snarl their
signals, blasting listeners with the kind of hissing, popping and humming
that overwhelms a radio receiver placed too close to a cell phone.

To keep that from happening, Sirius and XM had asked the FCC to consider
imposing more regulations on Wi-Fi makers, including forcing them to put
some controls on these spurious signals. The FCC is not required to act upon
their request. 

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http://news.com.com/2100-1033-933965.html?tag=cd_mh
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