dailywireless.org » Google Launches White Space Offensive

Google Launches White Space Offensive

Lorne Lutch: You look like a nice enough fella. What are you doing working for these assholes?
Nick Naylor: I’m good at it. Better at doing this than I ever was at doing anything else.
Lorne Lutch: Aw, hell, son. I was good at shooting VC. I didn’t make it my career.
– Thank You For Smoking

In today’s Wall Street Journal FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says, “Spectrum is very valuable and we want to make sure it’s being used as efficiently as possible. The idea of trying to utilize the ‘white spaces’ from a consumer perspective would be a good win for everyone.”

The Federal Communications Commission will have the final say in the battle between the broadcasters — which fear interference on the airwaves they’ll still be using — and the companies including Google Inc. and Motorola Inc. that want to share the television airwaves, using them for high-speed wireless service that could spur the development of new wireless gadgets.
In September, the FCC is expected to report its findings on tests of prototype “smart radios” that can pinpoint which local broadcast channels are being used and then avoid them.
White-spaces fans see a world in which empty TV channels could be used to deliver cheap, high-speed wireless Web access to consumers without forcing them to buy a latte. They envision installing a few antennas over a wide area to create a “mesh” network that delivers wireless Internet service. Previous efforts to do that with Wi-Fi antennas haven’t been that successful, because their signals are weak and as a result the networks required a large number of antennas.
Four devices designed to figure out which TV channels are in use have been submitted for FCC testing. So far, FCC engineers aren’t talking about their conclusions.

Today, Google is launching a new advocacy campaign, called FreeTheAirwaves.com, an effort by the company to get some traction around white spaces, notes Om Malik.

In March, in an ex parte filing with the FCC (PDF), Google’s Washington-based counsel Richard Whitt advised commissioners that the abundance of unused airspace could provide “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide ubiquitous wireless broadband access to all Americans.”

The broadcasting industry is opposed to white spaces, insisting that the use of spectrum will lead to harmful interference. But the claims of the National Association of Broadcasters — which use our airwaves free — seem thin and dubious.

Chief apologist for the NAB, Dennis Wharton (right), says the U.S. digital television standard, ATSC, will fall down and go boom. Broadcasters have a website called “Interference Zones” that borders on the moronic.

Google’s “white spaces” plan would provide (unlicensed) wireless Internet access to the entire U.S. (pdf). Google’s proposal utilizes unused television channels. Anyone could use them. Broadcasters say it would interfere with television broadcasts.

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 the analog television era, adjoining stations interfered with each other.

In the digital era, DTV stations with million watt DTV transmitters can be right next to each other (Channel 41, 42, 43, etc). Digital transmission cleanly separates signals on adjacent channels and allows interference-free reception.

But 100 milliwatt “white space” access points (using unused channels), can’t be designed to prevent interference to televisions, claims the NAB.

The top part of the dial — from UHF Channel 52-69 was just auctioned off by the FCC for nearly $20 billion dollars. But the bottom part of the television dial is now a largely unused resource.

Verizon Communications executive vice president and former congressman Tom Tauke sided with Broadcasters. He said Thursday that its principal concern was over potential interference to its own customers. Verizon doesn’t offer any services in the television band, but they, like broadcasters, are concerned about the increased competition.

While everyone knew the “white space” initiative was coming, broadcasters and cellular companies thought they had the FCC in their back pocket. It may have been a misjudgment. The FCC appears skeptical of broadcasters’ claims to the entire spectrum.

To help pitch the “white space” initiative, Google filmed video testimonials from people from around the country. Chris Sacca (above), who used to work at Google, is now a venture capitalist.

His testimony shows a serious commitment on behalf of Google. I believe it was shot with a full commercial film crew.

He looks directly into the camera, so a teleprompter on a tripod-mounted camera was probably used.
A 35mm film camera (or large chip digital camera) may have been required for narrow focus.
A shotgun mike probably recorded sound
Diffused lighting and color balancing was supplied

That implies a truck with silent generator, a cine cam (with video monitor), a video playback station and a crew of a least six. Probably cost $5K - $10K to shoot Sacca and Ingersoll. Looks casual, though. Great effect. His testimony is one of dozens.

In other news, The HTC Dream, the first device to come out of the Open Handset Alliance, was approved Monday by the Federal Communications Commission.

According to documents posted by the FCC on Monday, the HTC Dream has received approval, granting permission for wireless devices to be used in the U.S. (in licensed cellular space).

The documents hosted on the federal commission’s Web site indicate that the HTC dream will operate on the 1700/2100 AWS band, which is T-Mobile’s 3G network. It will also support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0. The Dream will feature a GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900 radio. The device will also sport a “jog ball,” which is likely similar to the navigation track ball featured on certain BlackBerry models like the Pearl and the Curve.

The Android “open platform” may also be used in the licensed 700 MHZ band.