Sometimes we policy wonks and tech geeks get so comfortable inside the bubble that we forget that a growing number of our audience includes people who may not even know how a radio works and, I suspect, might not even have a radio. So, if my six regular readers will indulge me, I’d like to point you to two good sources that describe what spectrum is and how it’s used in communications.
The first source can be found at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/roosa1.html. This link takes you to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s online description of the spectrum.
Another good site is located at http://www.howstuffworks.com/radio-spectrum.htm. The site is called HowStuffWorks. This is a good site particularly for those of us, myself included, who only get as geeky as an old Star Trek episode. It provides the same info as the NTIA’s site but is not as technical.
Just keep in mind that spectrum is a range of light. Some of it you can see. Some of it you can’t. This light moves in waves which is why radio signals can travel short or long distances.
As the FCC’s discussion of spectrum progresses, these resources will come in handy.