GOOGLE IS PUSHING hard to launch a national wireless service that promises superfast national data access us - ing the so-called white spaces on the analog TV spectrum.
In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Google suggested that the spectrum could deliver “faster, longer-range, higher data rates” than are available now from telecoms and na - tional Wi-Fi hotspot services.
White spaces consist of the unused wireless spectrum between TV channels. Th ose spaces serve to prevent one analog channel from interfering with a neighboring channel. Broadcasters have long argued that the spaces can’t be used because that would create interference with TV broadcasts. Aft er the February 2009 transition to digital TV, however, that position makes less sense.
This portion of the spectrum (the 700-MHz band) can travel long distances and penetrate obstacles such as buildings and walls, making it very desirable to various would-be developers.
By using white spaces, Google could off er wireless Internet access to many portable devices, in cluding new mo - bile phones that run Googlebacked An droid soft ware, now being developed by a consortium of companies.
Richard Whitt, Washington telecom and media counsel for Google, wrote the March 21, 2008, letter to the FCC. He called the new wireless technology “Wi-Fi 2.0” and touted its ability to deliver “data rates in the gigabitsper- second range.” If the FCC gives Google the green light, Whitt said, the service could be available to consumers as early as next year.
Whitt’s letter also suggested that the new broadband could serve the needs of people in rural areas. And he asserted that the plan would provide “much-needed competition” to current broadband service providers.
Microsoft and the White Spaces Coalition, whose members include Dell, Intel, and Philips Electronics, are backing Google’s plan.
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