Adopting a “white spaces” vision, Google is resurrected the 700 MHz band this week with a letter to the FCC presenting its plans to provide wireless Internet access to the entire U.S. (FCC pdf).
Google and other technology companies including Intel, Philips and Microsoft have pressed the FCC to open up the unused TV airwaves for unlicensed use in hopes of enabling more widespread, affordable Internet access.
In their comments (pdf), Google said it would propose an enhanced system to prevent wireless devices operating in the so-called “white space” from interfering with adjacent television channels and wireless microphones.
Google said the enhancements “will eliminate any remaining legitimate concerns about the merits of using the white space for unlicensed personal/portable devices.”
Richard Whitt, Google’s Washington telecom and media counsel, said the company’s Android handset effort could result in handsets for the white spaces as early as December 2009. According to Information Week, Whitt said: “The vast majority of viable spectrum in this country simply goes unused, or else is grossly underutilized.
Our nation typically uses only about 5% of one of our most precious resources… The unique qualities of the TV white space — unused spectrum, large amounts of bandwidth, and excellent propagation characteristics — offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide ubiquitous wireless broadband access to all Americans.”
A proposal being studied by the FCC would create two categories of users for the airwaves: one for low-power, personal, portable devices, and a second group for fixed commercial operations.
Two weeks ago, Bill Gates testified before Congress and visited lawmakers on Capitol Hill to talk about their concerns over U.S. competitiveness.
Microsoft’s Craig Mundie was disappointed in the FCC’s decision to auction off available public spectrum rather than allocating some of the airwaves to white space technology. Microsoft is one of the founding members of the White Space Coalition.
Microsoft, like Google, wants to see the FCC give the green light for vacant airspace in the TV spectrum for wireless broadband. A Microsoft prototype that would use such white spaces is being tested by the FCC.
Related DailyWireless stories include; White Space War Continues, White Spaces Prototype: Dead Again, Sprint and T-Mobile Support “White Space” Use, White Space Gets Hot and NAB: Unlicensed Devices Threaten America
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