F.C.C. Votes to Open "White Spaces," Google Promises "Wi-Fi On Steroids"

Sam Gustin writes: With all eyes focused on the U.S. presidential election, another vote took place today that has been closely watched in the tech world.

In a big victory for Google and public interest groups, the Federal Communications Commission today approved a plan to open up unused television bandwidth -- known as "white spaces" -- for a national broadband network.

Google had been lobbying heavily for the move, which it said would result in a new broadband network it described as "Wi-Fi on steroids."

The "white spaces" are unlicensed spectrum -- as opposed to the licensed spectrum the F.C.C. auctioned off earlier this year -- that lie between channels 2 to 51 on analog television sets. Major television companies had opposed the plan, warning that opening up the "white spaces" could interfere with existing TV signals or complicate the coming transition from analog to digital broadcasting.

Although Google has couched its support for opening up the spectrum in terms of the public interest, it has also made it clear that it could benefit financially from the move.

"Make no mistake," the company says on a website it launched as part of its campaign, "open access to this unused bandwidth would surely be good for our own bottom line (not to mention those of many of our industry peers); better access to the internet means more people doing Web searches and using our software products."

Google has said that it wants to use the spectrum for wireless service for phones running its Android open source operating system beginning late next year.

Google co-founder Larry Page praised the vote.

"This is a clear victory for Internet users and anyone who wants good wireless communications," Page wrote on the company blog. "We will soon have "Wi-Fi on steroids," since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today's Wi-Fi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost."

Public interests groups hailed the vote as a step toward increasing broadband penetration throughout the country. The Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, which represents several groups who pushed for the plan, issued the following statement.

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took a major step to foster innovation and create new opportunities for consumers.  By allowing the 'white spaces' between TV channels to be used for unlicensed services, the FCC put the public interest ahead of the special interests.  The FCC decision has the potential to bring enormous benefits to all Americans, whether as a tool for broadband access or as an engine of innovation and job creation.  It will move wireless services into the 21st century.

"New wireless services will develop as a result of this decision that would not have been allowed to be realized otherwise.  These new services will enrich the lives of Americans while not interfering with their traditional entertainment options."