TV Band for Wireless Use Could be Opened with Google’s Plan

Google announced a plan that may allow wireless Internet devices to use vacant television airwaves without incommoding the current equipment.

Google offered suggestions on how the airwaves, known as white spaces, could provide an avenue for high-speed mobile access to consumers without interfering with wireless microphones and televisions. This was explained in Google’s letter to the Federal Communications Commision.

Google, like Microsoft, is part of the group that wants FCC to initiate the unlocking of the airwaves for unlicensed use after the conversion by broadcasters to digital signal in 2009. The proposal of Google could help ensure that late next year consumers anywhere would be able to use wireless devices on vacant airwaves.

Richard S. Whitt, the company’s lawyer,said in a conference call that
“Google is a strong believer in the potential of this spectrum to bring Internet access to more Americans,The spectrum is way too valuable to be wasted.”