The IEEE has a new working group up and running (802.22) and they've got a new acronym that is sure to confuse media and profit analysts for years to come: WRAN, which stands for wireless regional area network.

WRAN joins a growing list of acronyms defined by coverage area:

- WPAN (personal area network)
- WLAN (local area network)
- WMAN (metro area network)
- WRAN (regional area network)

(There is also 802.20 "wireless mobility" which is in desperate need of a good acronym.)

Labeling a technology by coverage area is an inperfect solution. WLAN can easily be powered up to cover several miles and WMAN is not likely to see many deployments over 5 to 10 miles (let alone 30), at least in the unlicensed band.

WRAN will attempt to bring order to new unlicensed UHF/VHF bands that will open up as part of the FCC-mandated digital television "upgrade." Specifically, the working group's charter is to "develop a standard for a cognitive radio-based PHY/MAC/air_interface for use by license-exempt devices on a non-interfering basis in spectrum that is allocated to the TV Broadcast Service."

The "non-interfering basis" will probably be the technical issue most contested by broadcasters in the years to come. But every little unlicensed crack in the FCC wall is a good thing and I wish this group luck.