There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining?
Is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a blowing?
Why yes it is, Willy. Yes it is. LiveTV is urging the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require Row 44 to clearly demonstrate in writing how its system design would operate "on a non-interference basis" or to "otherwise bring its transmit power levels into line with those the commission has approved before in the case of aeronautical FSS applications".
Only AFTER the California-based firm makes such a showing should the commission allow Row 44 to conduct testing to determine whether its theoretical design will work in practice, suggests the JetBlue Airways subsidiary in a 12 December letter to the regulator.
"In the absence of such a showing, the FCC should deny or dismiss the Row 44 applications," adds LiveTV.
Well Jiminy Christmas this isn't the nicest news for Row 44 to be receiving just before the holiday, is it? After all, the company is readying to trial its Ku band-based in-flight connectivity system on Boeing 737s operated by Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
In its letter to the FCC, which follows on the heels of a torrent of objections to Row 44's applications by ViaSat, LiveTV says it is "actively exploring the use of Ku band FSS spacecraft to provide true broadband services to our customers". For these to succeed, however, they "must operate in an interference-free environment and not cause interference themselves".
On a slight tangent, LiveTV execs have previously made known there interest in Ku band, but the adverb "actively" is supremely interesting.
In any case, LiveTV believes the operation of the Row 44 system "presents far more significant interference risks than any other aeronautical FSS terminal proposed before it".
It says hasty deployment of any system, including the one proposed by Row 44 that ends up causing interference "could harm the industry as a whole, and thus slow down the deployment of similar broadband services by LiveTV and others". Check out the full letter here. LiveTV Letter.pdf
Not to be too dark or anything, but...
Not a speck of light is showing
so the danger must be growing
Are the fires of hell a glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes! The danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
any signs that they are slowing!
When last I spoke to Row 44, the firm said it is pushing ahead with its plans. Rowing, if you will. But will the endeavor be upstream all the way? And could Row 44 find itself without a golden ticket? There were five, remember, and we already know that Aircell has found one.
(Photo of boat from www.bigfoto.com/themes/ships/index.htm)
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