http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/fcc-to-test-white-space-database-at-its-own-pace/
I know that I have been hoping to drip-feed information here, but occasionally I will need to jump the gun.
For those of you that don't know about the "White Space," it is referring to the spaces in the RF Spectrum that will be left between Television Channels, leaving clear bandwidth for devices to communicate on.
This spectrum remains unlicensed, and thus manufacturers can use this space for data transfer. Wireless Microphones operate in the same space; they are designed to work in the TV channel space, but in the "gaps" between channels. Of course, the introduction of more "White Space" devices sends shivers up most Radio Mic Technician's spine, because it potentially means that a device will suddenly appear in the middle of your spectrum... when you least expect it!
The reason White Space Devices didn't work so well in the past is due to the difference between Digital and Analogue TV transmission. Analogue is much less predictable, however Digital Channels stick out like a sore thumb to even the most basic devices. So, when you turn off the Analogue stations, you make it a lot easier to make White Space Devices.
It shouldn't be confused with the Digital Dividend, which is the space at the high end (~800MHz) of the spectrum that will be "empty" (i.e. no TV channels) once the Analogue TV stations are turned off. This spectrum will be sold off, and in the US it made a hell of a lot of money.
I will go into all of these topics in much greater detail, but for those of you that are hanging on any bit of Spectrum Information, please enjoy the link.
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