Saying it’s full of errors, the NAB wants the FCC to revoke approval for Nominet to administer the agency’s TV White Spaces database until the problems are corrected. The Commission authorized Nominet, the registry for .UK domain names, as a TV white spaces database administrator in June. The database identifies TV channels in use so that unlicensed devices authorized to use the “white spaces” between TV channels can avoid interfering with the stations.
A review of Nominet’s database by consulting engineering firm du Treil, Lundin & Rackley at NAB’s expense, showed the database provided wrong channel information for “more than three out of four tested sites,” according to the association. “This is because Nominet is pulling the wrong information from FCC files and, as a result, has incorrect channel information for hundreds of television stations,” NAB says in a Petition for Reconsideration. NAB says Nominet is using incorrect channel information for “at least” 200 full power television stations.
It’s willing to work with Nominet to correct the errors, but wants the Commission not to make the database available to the public in the meantime. The association suggests the FCC review the database and only approve Nominet as the database provider when the Commission is satisfied the errors are corrected.
NAB also believes the agency should review its internal procedures for approving database administrators. It said: “The Commission’s regime for the prevention of harmful interference to licensed users should not require those users to spend thousands of dollars ensuring the Commission’s approach to protecting them is effective.”
October 23, 2018
