Google and other tech companies won a big battle in Washington today. In an Election Day meeting, the FCC approved the unlicensed use of “white spaces” spectrum newly freed up as a result of TV broadcasters going from analog to digital broadcasts. Google has long been leading the lobbying effort to turn this spectrum into a sort of WiFi 2.0. Telecom companies and sports leagues opposed opening up the spectrum, claiming that it would interfere with wireless headsets and other devices that use nearby licensed airwaves.
Google argued that the interference argument was bunk, and the FCC agreed. Although the FCC is requiring more testing before “white spaces” devices will be approved.
This is a big win not just for Google, but for the entire tech industry. Just as WiFi changed the way we connect to the Internet in our homes and offices, the “white spaces” spectrum could be used for longer-range wireless broadband connections. The wireless carriers are right to feel threatened.
As far as Google is concerned, it wants as many wireless networks as possible to connect to the Internet. The “white spaces” is part of a bigger thrust. For instance, consider a recent Google patent to tie disparate wireless networks together through a marketplace that would let people switch networks on the fly as they moved around based on price and quality of coverage. As we noted in a post about that patent:
The patent is part of Google’s broader agenda to get as many people online as possible with as many devices as possible. Hence the gPhone, its pressure on the FCC, and Larry Page’s bristling in support of open white spaces. The opening of white spaces in particular could lead to more connection points for mobile devices, ones that form an attractive alternative to those provided by wireless carriers. And Android-powered phones could be among the first to take advantage of a flexible connections system.
The FCC just gave Google the go-ahead to start its end-run around the carriers. But it also just approved Verizon’s acquisition of AllTell, so it is spreading its love around.
Update: In a blog post today, Google co-founder Larry Page writes:
I’ve always thought that there are a lot of really incredible things that engineers and entrepreneurs can do with this spectrum. We will soon have “Wi-Fi on steroids,” since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today’s Wi-Fi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost. And it is wonderful that the FCC has adopted the same successful unlicensed model used for Wi-Fi, which has resulted in a projected 1 billion Wi-Fi chips being produced this year. Now that the FCC has set the rules, I’m sure that we’ll see similar growth in products to take advantage of this spectrum.As an engineer, I was also really gratified to see that the FCC decided to put science over politics. For years the broadcasting lobby and others have tried to spread fear and confusion about this technology, rather than allow the FCC’s engineers to simply do their work.
About time. Bring on the WI-FI.
This has been long needed to help spur American innovation
weezy feeezy in tha heeeeeeeezy
I doubt this would have happened if Google’s lobbying power had not grown to rival those of the telecom companies. Government acts in the interests of its own corporations. While Google’s interests might serve the best interests of progress here, they won’t always do – in most cases they won’t. The telecoms industry, including search engines, needs to be nationalised and placed under the control of workers and consumers so that it can fully act in their interests.
Wow – this is huge. Maybe licensing fees in this spectrum will offset our federal budget deficit?
This will change wireless technology forever! It still needs to be controlled and not by one mega company!
This is so very sweet!!!
Let the awesome begin.
sweet. but if this goes gangbusters in the next 2 years, will i have to buy a new iphone??
Go Google!
Unlicensed white space, and then net neutrality, pretty soon the whole telecom industry will be out of work.
Rather shocking that nobody is jumping all over this story. Thanks for reporting this
This is big news.
what is “soon” here? 2009?
2009’s in ~56 days; is that not soon?
as far as when consumer tech around this this newly-available spectrum, it’d be great in ‘09, but unlikely.
hmmm, why on election day? jockey to keep their jobs, or just doing it when no lobbyists were paying attention…
about time. so fu**** tired of high wireless broadband fees.
i dont think the major telcoms are gonna like this. i still think that patent diagram looks strikingly similar to the MyLocator Theory. see for yourself.
LocationExpert.com
Could this be a move towards 100% coverage for high-speed Internet? Paedophiles are rejoicing after hearing this news.
Dwayne.
http://probablysucks.com
This really sucks for the MI. We use wireless mics etc…. all the time. Now we are going to get walked on because some jacka#* has to check his freakin myspace every 5 min. Besides now we are going to have to spend even more money on new products. If everyone remembers about 10 years ago we had to use pay-phones, so now is everyones life so busy that they cant live without the internet all the time or are the only friends they have “on-line”?
Hmmm. Listen up, Mr. Grumpy Pants. This is good news. Really good news. It’s time to hang up the pay-phone, push “stop” on your tape deck, and figure out a way to adapt. If I were you, I would be more concerned with figuring out a way to actually make some money in the music industry, rather than getting emotional about the imminent spread of WiFi access.
C’mon – this should put a little more beat in your Beets. I know you’re gonna make it. Let me paint you a picture of the future:
If more people have more access to the internet, they will have more opportunity to listen to your songs. You know, on sites like freakin’ MySpace Music. This is good news. Really good news.
Now run along to your studio and make me some music.
Great! More bandwidth for Verizon and AT&T to purchase. Another source of revenue for them.
Great! The Google Hunter! =D
wow that’s awesome!