FCC approves use of white spaces

By Gautham Nagesh - 09/23/10 02:05 PM ET

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the use of unused television spectrum known as "white spaces." Lawmakers, industry and advocacy groups hailed the announcement as the start of a new wave of innovation in wireless technologies.

The unused airwaves between television channels are low frequency and able to travel over much larger distances than traditional wireless networks, earning them the moniker "WiFi on Steroids." A single access point would be capable of providing wireless broadband access to users within a 50-mile radius.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski predicted the white spaces would become a "powerful platform for innovation" and said the U.S. would be the first country to deploy the technology. He also cited an analyst's estimate that the release could eventually add more than $7 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

"As compared to the airwaves we released for unlicensed use in 1985, this 'white spaces' spectrum is far more robust – traveling longer distances and through walls, making the potential for this unlicensed spectrum much greater," Genachowski said.

“Releasing unused spectrum is a sure-fire way to promote innovation and provide low-cost internet to folks in Western Massachusetts and across the country,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in statement. “Today’s announcement from the FCC is a critical step towards a robust wireless future that will benefit all Americans.”

The FCC had delayed allowing technology firms to build devices that take advantage of the white spaces due to broadcasters' concerns they would disrupt TV signals or wireless microphones. The FCC's order preserves at least two channels for wireless mics. The broadcast industry was reserved in its response, while stakeholders praised the FCC and dismissed broadcasters' concerns as overblown.

"[The National Association of Broadcaster]'s overriding goal in this proceeding has been to ensure America's continued interference-free access to high quality news, entertainment and sports provided by free and local television stations. We look forward to reviewing the details of today's ruling," said Dennis Wharton, NAB vice president of communications in a statement.

“Today is a good day for innovators, and a bad one for fear mongerers. Chairman Genachowski and the Commission stood up to pressure from the broadcast lobby and rejected its hyperbolic warnings that new smart radio technologies won’t protect against interference," said Matt Wood, associate director of the advocacy group Media Access Project.

Technology firms such as Dell and Google have urged the FCC to approve use of white spaces while emphasizing that the technical details of the rules would be critical to ensuring businesses invest in the area. The move will be the first release of spectrum for unlicensed use in 25 years.