Groups Urge Congress to Support White Spaces
October 24th, 2008 by Megan TadyTwelve public interest groups today urged Congress to support Internet for everyone by supporting “white spaces.”
White spaces – the empty broadcast TV channels – are one of the U.S.’s most promising ways to close the digital divide and bring high-speed Internet access to all Americans.
The groups sent letters to lawmakers encouraging them to support the Federal Communication Commission’s proposed ruling to open white spaces for public use. The FCC will make its final decision on Nov. 4.
The letters were signed by Free Press, Media Access Project, Consumer Federation of America, Public Knowledge, New America Foundation, Consumers Union, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Prometheus Radio Project, Tribal Digital Village, Acorn Active Media Foundation, CUWiN Foundation, and Ethos Group.
In the face of harsh criticism by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), who is lobbying against white spaces, the letters makes a clear case for opening up white spaces and puts the NAB’s faulty claims to rest.
“At a time when we should all be thinking about policies that spark economic growth, we have a great chance to support one right now,” says the letter.
Read the full Senate version here.
Read the full House version here.
