FCC to open up vacant TV airwaves


September 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

FCC to open up vacant TV airwaves

washington

A new flavor of Wi-Fi, with longer range and wall-piercing power, could show up in wireless gadgets a year from now if the Federal Communications Commission works out the last details of new spectrum rules that have been long in the making.

Nearly two years ago, the FCC voted to open up the airwaves between broadcast TV channels — so-called “white spaces” — for wireless broadband connections. But wrangling over key technical details, including concerns about interference with TV signals and wireless microphones, has prevented exploitation of these spaces.

On Sept. 23, the FCC plans to vote on rules meant to resolve those issues.

Child-care workers sues to leave union

detroit

Peggy Mashke tends to 12 children for 12 hours a day at her home, so she was surprised to get a letter welcoming her to the United Auto Workers union.

“I thought it was a joke,” said Mashke, 50, of Michigan’s Ogemaw County.

Willing or not, Mashke and 40,000 other at-home providers are members of a labor partnership that represents people across Michigan who watch children from low-income families. Two unions receive 1.15 percent of the state subsidies granted to those providers, or more than $1 million a year.

Mashke has given up about $100 this year, and is among a small group of home-based providers suing in federal court to break free from organized labor.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .62, 20.21 .23

Avalon Holdings,2.850.00

Clear Channel, 1.75 58.25 .47

Cortland Bancorp, 5.250.00

Delphi Automotive, .02 0.00

Farmers Nat., .12, 3.55.03

First Energy, $2.20, 37.40—.20

FirstMerit Corp., .64,17.52 0.00

First Niles Financial,7.000.00

First Place Fin., 3.65.21

FNB Corp., .48,8.48.07

General Electric, .48,15.98.07

Motors Liquidation, .34—0.00

Huntington Bank, .04, 5.85—.01

JP Morgan Chase, .20,39.76—.34

Key Corp, .04,8.22.10

LaFarge, 12.66 .01

Macy’s, .20, 20.80.17

Parker Hannifin, 1.08, 65.05.09

PNC, .40,54.76.06

RTI Intl. Metals,30.69.58

Rural/Metro, 8.52 .52

Simon Prop. Grp.,$2.40,94.85.63

Stoneridge 9.17 .07

United Community Fin. 1.40.10

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Friday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.