Twelve U.S. Representatives from Texas and Ohio recently sent letters to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin voicing concern over the use of unlicensed personal-portable devices that have been shown to cause interference to television reception.

The so-called "white space devices" operate in spectrum reserved for television broadcasting. In July, a report by the FCC concluded that sample prototype white space devices did not accurately detect broadcast signals and caused interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones.

Texas Reps. Gene Green (D-29th), Ralph Hall (D-4th), Charles Gonzalez (D-20th), Sam Johnson (R-3rd), Nick Lampson (D-22nd), John Carter (R-31st), and Al Green (D-9th), sent this letter, arguing that the transition to digital television is a major undertaking that should not be complicated by allowing interference-causing devices to operate on broadcast frequencies.

"Consumers will collectively be spending billions of dollars over the next several years on digital televisions and digital-to-analog converter boxes with the expectation that these products will produce significantly sharper pictures," the lawmakers wrote.

"Allowing unlicensed devices to operate on these frequencies has the potential to interfere with the incumbent users of this spectrum, resulting in degraded service for the end users of this spectrum, the American public."

Ohio Reps. Steve Chabot (R-1st), Dave Hobson (R-7th), Jim Jordan (R-4th), Patrick Tiberi (R-12th), and Steven C. LaTourette (R-14th), sent a letter expressing concern that allowing unlicensed personal and portable devices to operate in the broadcast spectrum would negatively impact the digital transition.

"According to a study conducted by the FCC, the use of personal and portable devices, particularly during the broadcasts of live events, was the likely source of interference in 80 to 87 percent of a television station's broadcast coverage area," wrote the Ohio Representatives. "With more than one million unlicensed, portable devices expected to enter the market over the next few years, the likelihood that television programming will be affected by these devices is a real threat."

These letters follow a long line of lawmakers who have expressed concern over the use of unlicensed personal-portable devices in the broadcast spectrum, including:

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC)
Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC)
Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC)
Rep. Walter Jones, Jr. (R-NC)
Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)
Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC)
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC)
Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC)
Rep. David Price (D-NC)
Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC)
Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA)
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL)
Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV)
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME)
Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ)