Google (NSDQ: GOOG) sent a letter to FCC today, detailing plans to provide wireless Internet access over TV “white spaces,” Reuters reported. White spaces are the unlicensed and unused TV airwaves, which TV broadcasters say will cause interference if they are used by others.
Google’s letter today is perhaps a sign that it was not the inherent winner of the recent spectrum auction despite what people are saying. Many claim that although Google did not buy any spectrum, it will benefit because Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ), which spent billions, will be forced to provide open access to its network. But in reality, there’s still a lot of questions about how Verizon will implement the open-access rules. To be sure, Google was already pressing the FCC to provide access to the white spaces prior to the auction results, however, Google’s letter today shows the company is still worried about there being enough competition in the industry.
The WSJ reported that Google said that the white space, located between channels 2 and 51 on TV that aren’t hooked up to satellite or cable, offer a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide ubiquitous wireless broadband access to all Americans.” In addition, opening up the spectrum would “enable much-needed competition to the incumbent broadband service providers,” wrote Richard Whitt, Google’s telecom and media lawyer.
Google held a conference call discussing the letter today. Silicon Alley Insider has a live transcript here.
The filing comes less than two weeks after Microsoft’s (NSDQ: MSFT) Bill Gates urged the FCC to free up the white space spectrum to use Wi-Fi. Google and Microsoft are part of a coalition of technology companies that are lobbying the FCC about white-space use. The group also includes Dell, Intel (NSDQ: INTC), Hewlett-Packard and the Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG). Last week, Motorola (NYSE: MOT) said that it was disappointed at how slowly the FCC was acting on the white spaces issues. MarketWatch reported that Motorola’s CTO for government and public safety David Borth said the earliest possible use of the white spaces spectrum would be in February, so it would be nice to have rules available by “early summer time frame.”
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