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Google's Wireless Plans Invade Contested "White Space"

Posted 08/24/08 at 04:54:04 PM  by Paul Lilly

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In between the ultra-high frequency television channels sits a spectrum of TV "white space," and as U.S. broadcasters transition from analog to digital transmission in time to meet the Federal Trade Commission's February 2009 deadline, these vacant bands are becoming a point of contention.

Google, Motorola, Microsoft, Philips, and others envision these vacant bands being used for universal wireless internet, and to plead its case to the FCC (and apply some pressure), Google has setup a website called FreeTheAirwaves.com with a four minute YouTube video outlining why opening up the spectrum would be a good thing.

But not everyone is in agreement with Google and Co.'s semi-Utopian vision. According to audio industry professionals, opening up the spectrum could be disastrous. Why? Because wireless audio equipment could suddenly find itself facing significant interference from electronic devices searching for wireless connectivity.

"The radio frequency environment is going to become more crowded and more difficult to use," says Mike Torlone, director of marketing services at AKG Acoustics, a division of audio-equipment manufacturer Harman International.

The fear is that everything from celebrity concerts to the local church sermon could potentially be affected, but Google thinks there are ways around the problem, such as using a geolocation database to ensure no white space device could transmit without first getting the all-clear from the database.

What's your take? Should the FCC open up the spectrum, or will doing so cause more problems than it purports to solve?

Image Credit: Flickr massdistraction

COMMENTS:4
TAGS: mobile, wireless, WiFi, Google, white space
COMMENTS
avatarOpening up a can of worms

Submitted by smuckjones on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 5:29am



I am all for this.  But there is much more to this than what it appears
on paper.  Many others use that same spectrum, not just your local
church.  One of the biggest is TV news, commonly referred to as
ENG(Electronic News Gathering).  They use the spectrum of anywhere between
793-806 MHz.  Also wireless PA systems.  Whatever frequency spectrum
that was being used for TV should have no other equipment in there, so utilize
that frequency in those areas.  Manufacturers do not need to make
different models for different frequencies.  They can make them with
"programmable" frequencies.  The term "programmable"
is used loosely for all it normally is turning a few selector switches to the
correct frequency. 

Do not overthink it and make it happen.

 

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avatarTesting, anyone?!?!

Submitted by Subsect on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 2:27am

It seems that levels of potential interference would be easy enough to test, at least on a small/medium scale.  Take any number locations - half urban (for the stadium/church crowd) and half semi-rural - and open and test interference over the course of say 3-6 months.  Pretty straight forward.

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avatarGo for it

Submitted by HotCarl on Sun, 08/24/2008 - 6:39pm



I fully support the idea of nationwide free wireless. 
If there is interference in radio frequencies, why can’t they just switch the
technology over to wifi.  If there was nationwide wireless even radio
stations could benefit.  Why mess around with short range radio frequencies
when you can reach the entire internet with content?  I can’t wait for the
day when my cars, radio, phone, navigation are all linked to the web.  It
would make my commute much more appealing.

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avatarTested August 9th

Submitted by nsvander on Sun, 08/24/2008 - 3:26pm

I know that Shure was interested in a test that was going to be done at FedEx Stadium.  It would be interesting to know what the results of this test are.  I think if the test came back favorable for the technology then Google might have a strong stance with the FCC to allow the spectrum to be opened.  If there was a lot of troubles, then I think the FCC should leave it closed.  As it is, isn't there enough wireless signals buzzing about?

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