Did you know the consumer electronics industry is set "...to increase the power of personal, portable devices to dangerously high levels..." with "...the goal of destroying television"?!

Yea, neither did I, but that's the claim the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has put forth in a recent filing with the FCC. Perhaps a tad overstated, the real issue is the currently empty white spaces in the broadcast spectrum that could, theoretically, be used for short-range, low-power wireless devices. Theoretically, that is, if the FCC grants electronics manufacturers and service providers permission on November 4th.

What kind of devices? Well, Google is very interested in this, if that's any clue. It's also likely that devices from GPS units that get live traffic up dates to wireless digital video are all possibilities. Who knows?

And while I'm not personally for or against this in any strong way, without knowing more, I don't see the harm. I mean, the debate is about currently unoccupied frequencies, i.e., frequencies that are not being used by NAB members (which is just about everyone in the broadcast industry). And I'm also thinking "dangerously high levels" and "destroying television" are probably overstating things just a bit. Furthermore, you have to ask: Who is still watching broadcast television? Less that 15% of the population. And we're STILL talking about unused space. Sheesh.

I'm guessing this is just the insane rantings and wild flailing about of the traditional broadcast industry as it once again fails to adapt to a media future it can't control.

References:
- BROADCASTERS ALERT FCC TO WHITE SPACE PROPONENTS' END GAME
- FCC Filing from the NAB