Wireless Internet Reviews

We’ve talked a bit about white spaces before. They’re essentially the slices of spectrum between broadcast channels. Tapped properly, they can provide valuable wireless Internet services. Best of all, by using them we’re using a resource we simply did not before. It’s like the Native Americans using every bit of the buffalo they slew. Yet not everyone is happy with this plan, which could bring cheap and effective broadband to millions. The National Association of Broadcasters and the Association for Maximum Service Television have sued the FCC over their November 2008 decision to use white spaces.

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We’ve seen the debate on white spaces unfold in the U.S. Google brought the concept to national prominence, and a number of fellow tech companies — namely Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Phillips Electronics — came out in support of it. This was, of course, much to the chagrin of cellular operators, who only see it as eating into their lucrative data services. The concept may spread past the U.S. soon, as Canada will consider adopting the technology when it switches to digital TV in 2011.

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So we know the FCC is considering a plan to auction off what are termed white spaces in a proposed plan to provide free broadband access across the country. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who has fallen under some criticism in recent times, favors the plan, while lame duck President George Bush opposes it. The commission was set to meet this week to vote on the issue, but on Friday Martin canceled it. Lawmakers had put pressure on him to do so.

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Thankfully, his term ends in just over a month. That, however, will not stop President Bush from voicing his displeasure with the free broadband Internet plan currently under consideration at the FCC. Why? I think the linked Chattahbox article has it right: It’s along the lines of the executive’s free-market principles. Which at this point is a bunch of baloney. Free market advocates don’t hand out $700 billion to failing industries.

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Despite being a lame duck FCC chairman, Kevin Martin still wants to get something done with free wireless Internet. His Commission met for December, and they’re looking to push a wireless broadband program that would provide free service to anyone who wants it. Sounds killer. The catch, of course, is that it would contain a filter that would sift out porn and other material not suitable for children. But that’s a small price to pay for free service, right? Plus, the Commission has proposed a workaround that would allow adults to access all the smutty material they desire.

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This week marks a significant moment in wireless broadband. The FCC has voted unanimously to use the free spaces within the TV frequencies for mobile broadband services. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the plan will move forward with anything resembling speed. Instead, it is expected that a number of lawsuits will hamper the measure. T-Mobile is among the companies not thrilled with the FCC’s decision. Dolly Parton is going to throw a fit.

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It appears as though broadcasters are getting serious in their opposition of white spaces, the frequencies between the frequencies which companies like Google believe can provide free broadband Internet to the masses. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin seems to agree, as he’s been talking about the benefits of white spaces for a few months now. However, don’t expect the broadcasters to down without a fight. Country singer Dolly Parton has come out against white spaces, lending her “expertise” to the matter.

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It’s a good day for those interested in wireless Internet. Since the end of the 700 MHz spectrum auction earlier this year, Google has been petitioning the FCC to examine the power of white spaces, those airwaves between licensed spectrum, for public use. Many telecoms have disputed the usefulness of white spaces, saying that they will cause interference with licensed spectrum. The FCC plans to release a report in early November on the subject, though chairman Kevin Martin gave us a glimpse into his thinking yesterday:

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