Broadcasters Oppose Google’s Plea For White Spaces
by admin ~ May 23rd, 2008.
The battle for the white spaces is far from being over, as Google co-founder Larry Page pleaded once more for the Federal Communications Commission to approve the free, unlicensed use of the slices of spectrum in between television channels.
While in Washington, Page highlighted the advantages of making the spectrum available, saying that this would benefit everyone, companies and consumers, by offering high speed mobile access without interfering with the TV broadcasters.
Two months ago, Google said that it is the right time to take action, and start a similar bidding process like in the 700MHz auction, where spectrum ownership has been established.
Over 90 percent of the wireless spectrum in the U.S. is not being used, and Google, together with Microsoft, Dell, Intel, HP and others target just that.
The Federal Communications Commission conducted several tests to establish whether the use of the white spaces would interfere with television broadcasts. The conclusion was that the devices didn’t do very well, but that is something that they can work on, Page said.
After February 2009, when the analog television will turn into digital television, the spectrum could be efficiently used for data services, the tech companies believe, supporting the idea that the widely unused space would significantly increase data transmission speeds.
However, TV broadcasters disagree, complaining that all the device tests have shown that the interference problem is in fact real and unresolved.
Dennis Wharton, executive vice president of the National Association of Broadcasters, said Page’s attitude to dismiss the interference concerns is simply “disingenuous,” Reuters quoted him as saying. He also added that by giving green light to the use of white spaces, the future of digital television would be jeopardized.
