March 21, 2008 5:30 PM PDT

Google wants to fill in the TV white spaces

Google is planning a conference call with journalists on Monday to discuss a company filing with the FCC regarding the use of unused portions of the TV spectrum band, known as white spaces.

On the 11:30 a.m. EST call will be Rick Whitt, Google's Washington telecom and media counsel.

Technology companies want to be able to use the spectrum between the TV channels for Internet access, and the FCC is considering opening up the white spaces for use by unlicensed Internet devices. But broadcasters oppose the move, saying it will cause interference.

The FCC has been running tests to see if the white spaces can be used without interfering with TV broadcasts. Microsoft has submitted a prototype device that would use the spectrum for high-speed broadband access.

Google, which is a member of the White Spaces Coalition with Microsoft, Intel, HP, and a few others, may have something similar up its sleeve.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 10 comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daydream
by nicmart March 21, 2008 5:46 PM PDT
I wonder how this would be handled in a free country? One in which the government didn't control communications and pretend, like any regime, that it speaks for "the people."
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Horridly
by CmdrRickHunter March 21, 2008 5:56 PM PDT
Can you imagine complaining that you can't get on the internet because your neighbor's wifi cd player is using the same bandwidth with interfering protocols? FCC does need to control our airwaves bandwidth, because it is a common property. See the tradgedy of the commons if you want to know why the FCC is there.
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This will benefit the Big Players
by LuciusBodi March 21, 2008 6:40 PM PDT
I'm sure like anything else this will benefit the big corps from Google to Microsoft and etc. They will use the White Spaces to extend their influence on broadband access. It will benefit them in ad revenues and direct usage charges too perhaps. I would be very surprised if these airwaves were turned over to the people of this country who actually own them for even a regulated access to free air space by independent internet broadcasters who would like to be able to compete with the media behemoths. Nothing happens in this country without it benefitting the corporate powers that be.
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Thereeeeeee heeeeeerrrrreeeeeeee.....
by NWLB March 21, 2008 6:51 PM PDT
N/M.
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