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As the Federal Communications Commission is still debating
over the approval of free, unlicensed use of the slices of spectrum between
television channels, better known as “white spaces,” Google decided to take
action.
The search giant launched Free The Airwaves, an advocacy
site dedicated to spreading the word about the advantages of using the white
spaces. The website also includes a petition, as well as
an invitation to bring the issue to the public’s attention by submitting videos
through YouTube.
Google is now pushing for the use of the slices of unused
spectrum in between television channels that were originally intended to
prevent radio waves or adjacent channels from interfering with each other,
which make up for three-quarters of the airwaves spectrum.
“This vast public resource could offer a revolution in
wireless service of all kinds,” said Google, explaining that “freeing the white
spaces represents a vote for the future of the Internet.”
The Federal Communications Commission will decide whether to
allow this spectrum for anyone’s use this fall. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is
among the supporters of using the white spaces idea, which he considers would
benefit everyone.
Google isn’t the only one pushing for white space use;
Microsoft, as well as other companies, such as Intel, HP and Dell, want the
same thing. However, broadcasters don’t like the idea that much.
TV broadcasters have presented FCC with their arguments
against the use of white spaces earlier this year, when they explained that the
device tests have shown that the use of the white spaces interferes with TV
broadcasting.
Google, together with other white space supporters,
suggested that after February 2009, when analog television will turn into
digital television, the spectrum could be used for data services, which would significantly
increase data transmission speeds.
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