For months, the FCC has been debating whether to open the vacant public airwaves between TV channels — called “white spaces” — for high-speed Internet access.

In an exciting victory for consumers and innovators, the agency released a report yesterday supporting new technology that would use the empty channels to connect millions of people to the Internet.

The agency has been conducting exhaustive field tests of white space prototype devices  — think of a cell phone or laptop that gives you a high-speed Internet connection using the vacant spectrum. The report endorsed the unlicensed use of white spaces, and the FCC is expected to officially vote on how to use the spectrum on Nov. 4.

Coinciding with the report, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin issued a promising statement that “white spaces can be used as long as it does not interfere with broadcasters.” The National Association of Broadcasters has long predicted that white space devices will interfere with TV transmissions, but yesterday’s report concludes that it is possible to use white spaces without impinging on existing channels.

Harnessing white spaces to connect people to the Internet could help close the digital divide.

“Nearly every market in the United States has empty white spaces — in some communities, more than three-quarters of the broadcast spectrum is unused,” said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. “Unlicensed devices make efficient use of the airwaves because they’re low-power and smart enough to detect and avoid other broadcasters and services.”

Scott said the endorsement from the technical experts means its times to free the airwaves.

“We urge the FCC to move forward with policies that will increase competition and innovation, paving the way for this revolutionary new wireless marketplace,” he said.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.-->