Google Wants to Use White Space for WiFi
Posted on: Monday, 24 March 2008, 15:50 CDT
Following Google’s recent loss in the U.S. spectrum auction, the internet search engine sent a new proposal to the Federal Communications Commission.Google’s newest pitch is for the FCC to allow mobile broadband services to use the airwaves that fill the white space, or those between broadcast channels.
Many U.S. broadcasters as well as manufacturers of microphones oppose the idea for fear that other wireless devices would cause interference. In their comments, Google recognizes the need for an enhanced system which would prevent those devices from interfering. There would have to be a way for the devices to identify only unused spectrum for use, in order to eliminate concerns about the merits of using white space for unlicensed devices .
Currently, the FCC is testing equipment in attempts to make use of the spectrum without intruding on television broadcasts.
This proposition from Google follows Microsoft’s recent proposal by two weeks. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, pleaded with the FCC to free up the spectrum in order to expand wireless broadband service access. Both Google and Microsoft are part of a coalition of technology companies who continue to lobby the FCC to allow this unlicensed white space use.
Other companies in the group include Dell, Intel Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., and North America’s unit of Phillips Electronics.
The proposal from Google specifies two groups of users for the airwaves. One group would use the spectrum for fixed commercial operations while the other utilized it for portable, personal, low-power devices.
The white space the companies wish to utilize falls between channels 2 and 51 on television sets which are not connected to cable or satellite services. There will more than likely not be any changes until the U.S. makes the shift from analogue to digital broadcasting in 2009.
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Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports
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