The auction will determine how newly available signal spectrum will be offered to the other networks.

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Reportedly, the FCC has warned Sprint that it "could lose access to the signal spectrum used by its Nextel- and Boost Mobile-branded wireless services" if it doesn't remedy the problem by June of 2008.

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With 802.11a, the wireless technology currently favored by Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) for transmitting video and music on wireless home networks, the signal spectrum used is in the 5 gigahertz range.

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Grob said that finding that capacity will require three different strategies: increasing the number of antennas in handsets and inside buildings, getting access to little-used and unused spectrum and improving the signal-to-noise ratio of transmissions.

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Main.net has found that even in the noisiest electrical environments, such as neighborhood transformers, there are always big enough gaps in the radio spectrum for repeaters to push a signal through.

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Arraycomm's approach allows the base station to constantly adapt the characteristics of the signal as the user moves around, keeping it focused, increasing spectrum efficiency and reducing interference from all the other signals permeating the air.

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Furthermore, the LightSpeaker's 2.5-inch wide dispersion driver uses digital signal processing to optimize high- and low-frequency output for a full spectrum of sound.

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And, because the digital signal occupies only 65% of the excess allotted bandwidth, stations can use the leftover spectrum to transmit text information like the artist's name, song title or more advertising.

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No matter what part of the normal radio spectrum you pick, you will find some material that will reduce, deflect or block the signal entirely.

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