Google might have walked away from the recent FCC 700Mhz spectrum auction without spending billions of dollars, but they definitely have some plans up their sleeves. Today Google announced to U.S. regulators (FCC) that they have a proposal for allowing the airwaves between broadcast channels to be used for mobile broadband services. Specifically, Google said that it would propose an enhanced system to prevent wireless devices operating in the “white space” from interfering with adjacent television channels and wireless microphones. The big deal here is the possibility for device interference, but Google stated that they would eliminate any remaining legitimate concerns about the merits of using the white space for unlicensed personal and portable devices.
Currently, the FCC is testing equipment to see if they can make use of the “white space” spectrum without interfering with television broadcasts. What makes this story really interesting is that two weeks ago Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates urged the FCC to free up the white space spectrum so that it could be used to expand access of wireless broadband services using Wi-Fi technology. If things go well, the proposal outlines that there would be two categories of users for airwaves: a lower power personal and portable device category and a second group that would consist of commercial operations.