The “Break it Down” Blog

After a long fight Google, Microsoft, and many other tech companies won their argument with the FFC yesterday when the FCC voted to approve the use of unlicensed “white spaces” spectrum newly freed up as a result of TV broadcasters going from analog to digital broadcasts.

While there are companies opposed to opening up this newly freed spectrum because of concerns about interference that devices on this spectrum could cause that argument is not really justified as any of these devices would have to first get approved by the FFC. The FFC’s approval of the devices will help ensure they don’t interfere with existing technologies.   TechCrunch has a great breakdown of what this should man for the consumer.

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.

Google is hoping the white space can be used for “Wi-fi on steriods.” In a post on Google’s Public Policy Blog Larry Page explains some of what Google is hoping for with the unlicensing of this spectrum.

“Wi-fi on steriods.” That’s one of the many potential uses for the wireless spectrum that is now lying unused between TV channels, our co-founder Larry Page told the New America Foundation here in DC this morning.

But why does Google care about helping more people get access to the web, whether it’s through enhanced wi-fi or other means? As Larry put it, Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information — but if no one has access to the Internet, what good is that effort? That’s one of the big reasons Google has become steadily more engaged in spectrum policy debates in Washington. Wading into that debate at his talk today, Larry said that:

• The U.S. has slipped from third to sixteenth in broadband penetration rates, in part because the U.S. has not shown leadership in encouraging greater broadband access. Utilizing the unused TV “white spaces” for broadband access would be a tremendous opportunity to bring the Internet to more Americans — including those in rural areas and first responders. Because of the much longer range of these spectrum signals, wireless broadband access utilizing the TV white spaces could be brought to more consumers using fewer base stations — in effect, “wi-fi on steriods”
• While wireless microphone users express concerns about the potential for these Internet devices to interfere with their signals, in fact wireless microphones have been using this spectrum for years without interference problems, so they serve as proof that it can be done safely. And while we believe that spectrum sensing technology can be proven to work, Larry noted that Google has also proposed an enhanced spectrum protection plan — involving geolocation and beacon technology — to guarantee that devices using this spectrum wouldn’t interfere with current users.
• The issue of device testing has been unfortunately politicized in Washington. Larry noted that the FCC process will guarantee that no device is sold to consumers until it can be certified not to interfere — a point often lost in this debate. He said he is “100 percent confident” that the white spaces will be used for Internet access — it’s just a question of when. And when that happens, many different companies will likely invest millions of dollars to develop innovative devices that don’t interfere. But the FCC allowing this innovation to happen is a necessary first step.
• The way that spectrum has traditionally been allocated is inefficient, and causes a lot of valuable spectrum to go to waste. Larry proposed that spectrum could be auctioned off by the government on a real-time basis (similar to Google’s ad auction), allowing devices and consumers to use spectrum as they need it. He also suggested that the U.S. government agencies that hold spectrum — primarily the Department of Defense — be allowed to have real-time auctions of their unused spectrum to other potential users, which would also additional government revenue.