Wireless Innovation Forum Announces Updated Speaker and Participant Lists for Upcoming TV White Spaces Summit

Speakers Include The Honorable Meredith Attwell Baker, Commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Julius P. Knapp II, Chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering Technology (OET)

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wireless Innovation Forum (www.WirelessInnovation.org) has announced new participants and speakers for its TV White Spaces Summit in Washington, D.C., June 15, 2010.

“Our members are excited by the quality of the program for the TV White Spaces summit”

The event keynote will be provided by The Honorable Meredith Attwell Baker, Commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Before being nominated by President Barack Obama as a member of the FCC on June 25, 2009, and sworn in on July 31, 2009, Ms. Baker served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). At NTIA, Ms. Baker advised and represented the Executive Branch on both domestic and international telecommunications and information policy activities.

Julius P. Knapp II, Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering Technology (OET), will deliver a session over lunch. Mr. Knapp has been with the FCC for 33 years and served as the Deputy Chief of OET 2002-2006, after which he was named Chief. Prior to that, he was the Chief of the Policy & Rules Division, where he was responsible for FCC frequency allocation proceedings and for proceedings amending the FCC rules for radio frequency devices. Mr. Knapp was Chief of the FCC Laboratory from 1994–1997, where he was responsible for the FCC’s equipment authorization program and technical analyses.

Convened by industry stakeholders including Dell, Google, Microsoft and Motorola, the summit will focus on lessons learned from current deployments, as well as proposals and ideas on all aspects of the emerging TV White Space (TVWS) market. The TVWS Summit will also highlight market demand, industry interest and progress of proposed standards, presenting multiple industry perspectives and plans for moving toward commercialization.

"Our members are excited by the quality of the program for the TV White Spaces summit," said Lee Pucker, CEO of the Wireless Innovation Forum. "Leading representatives from all levels of the emerging TV White Space value chain are scheduled to participate, making this the premier event for understanding the maturity of the technology and the growing opportunities for this important and emerging market."

This event will address key topics of interest for the wireless industry, including Device Manufacturers, Radio Manufacturers, ISPs, Carriers, Software Providers and Application Builders. The Summit is designed to recognize the importance of the role of identified participants in supporting the objectives of the FCC in promoting more readily available access to broadband services.

Visit the event web site for more information, as well as the complete agenda and registration.

This is the first of two workshops being held by the Forum focused on TV White Space Communications. A follow-up workshop focused on technology evolution in TV White Space entitled Going to Market with TV Band Devices: Long Term Promises, Near Term Actions will be held in Schaumberg, Illinois, on September 16th, 2010 (more information here). Individuals wishing to participate in this follow-up workshop should contact Al Margulies, Deputy CEO of the Wireless Innovation Forum.

The event is sponsored by TV Band Service and Spectrum Bridge.

About the Wireless Innovation Forum

Established in 1996, the Wireless Innovation Forum (SDR Forum Version 2.0) is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation dedicated to driving technology innovation in commercial, civil, and defense communications worldwide. Members bring a broad base of experience in Software Defined Radio (SDR), Cognitive Radio (CR) and Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technologies in diverse markets and at all levels of the wireless value chain to address emerging wireless communications requirements. To learn more about the Wireless Innovation Forum, its meetings and membership benefits, visit www.WirelessInnovation.org.