ATBA Sees Microsoft Push on TV White Spaces as Threat to LPTV

Microsoft’s push to use TV white spaces is a threat to low-power TV, the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance blogged Wednesday. Microsoft filed for a trademark -- AIRBAND -- for use in providing apps and business consulting in white space telecom. “The proposed set aside of three channels in the television broadcast bands will severely limit the rebuild of many Low Power TV and Translator stations displaced in the recent FCC incentive spectrum auction,” ATBA said. “Microsoft is looking for a free ride on channels they could have purchased, channels that T-Mobile spent over $8 billion to buy and channels that broadcasters have spent untold billions to develop and maintain.” Microsoft didn’t comment.