NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: January 9, 2009 Robert Kenny, (202) 418-2668 Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov Matthew Nodine, (202) 418-1646 Matthew.Nodine@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN MARTIN CREATES NEW INTERNATIONAL TV WHITE SPACES FELLOWSHIP AND TRAINING INITIATIVE Washington, D.C. – Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Kevin J. Martin today announced the creation of a new International TV White Spaces Fellowship and Training Initiative. The use of TV white spaces has the potential to improve wireless broadband connectivity and inspire an ever-widening array of new Internet-based products and services for consumers. International experts and fellows will have the opportunity to interact directly with FCC staff through in-country interaction, structured educational dialogue, a dedicated interactive website, online training videos, and an annual conference. Chairman Martin said, "This Fellowship and Training Initiative will provide a platform for the FCC to work with international regulators and their spectrum experts on technical issues associated with the use of TV white spaces and further build on our momentum in this area. It is important that we continue to support ways to expand consumers access to cutting edge wireless products, while also encouraging the most efficient and innovative use of valuable spectrum, and this program will help us achieve those goals." More specifically, drawing upon the extensive experience gained through years of work spent examining the use of TV white spaces by unlicensed wireless devices, FCC staff will provide remote training to interested regulators and technical experts and will also travel to meet with them to provide practical advice and expert insight. Select international counterparts will be designated “White Spaces Fellows” and will be invited to attend targeted training at FCC facilities. In addition, the FCC will launch a website dedicated to the use of white spaces for wireless broadband – including the extraordinary testing done and technical parameters established to protect incumbent users and provide training videos. The FCC also plans to annually host a meeting of the White Spaces Fellows and other interested parties to exchange experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges of TV white spaces use. The Fellowship and Training Initiative comes on the heels of actions taken by the Commission last November to adopt rules that will allow for the unlicensed commercial use of TV White Spaces spectrum. The Commission’s rules establish a framework for enhanced wireless communications by building on a proven concept: the safe deployment of new, intelligent devices in the unused spectrum that exists between television channels without causing undue interference to adjacent users. This expanded use of the spectrum is expected to eventually allow for enhanced home broadband networks, intelligent peer-to-peer devices, and even small communications networks. During his tenure, Chairman Martin has engaged in constructive dialogue with regulators from around the world on many common challenges. The most important of these has been to ensure that all citizens have access to “next generation networks.” Broadband and the innovative applications that it enables have become increasingly critical drivers of both economic growth and social development. Innovative wireless technologies must play a critical part of any broadband strategy that seeks to foster choice and access. This Fellowship and Training Initiative builds on this concept. The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) and the International Bureau (IB) will oversee the Fellowship initiative and, in general, will seek qualified candidates for the Fellowship who are familiar with the technical aspects of wireless communications, particularly broadband services, and the testing of commercial wireless devices for commercial use. Additional details will be made available by OET and IB at a later date on the specific criteria for qualified applicants, when applications will be accepted and when the initiative is expected to begin. For additional information, contact Robert Kenny @ (202) 418-2668 or Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov; or Matthew Nodine at (202) 418-1646 or Matthew.Nodine@fcc.gov. -FCC- News and other information about the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov