Easy, tiger

Last Tuesday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to allow the unlicensed use of the white space spectrum.

So-called "white spaces" are the 300MHz to 400MHz of unused spectrum that sit between broadcast TV channels. It may prove a useful way to provide wireless broadband services, for example, because it can penetrate walls and travel long distances.

Broadband penetration rates in US, while still in the top 20 worldwide, have slipped in rank considerably as other countries race ahead. In June 2006, some 72% of Americans using the internet at home were on a broadband connection. After two years, the ratio increased just 7 percentage points, to 79%. (15% of Americans still use dial-up.)

Availing TV's white spaces will allow for the creation of a "WiFi on steroids," — a term coined by Google co-founder Larry Page back in May — which could bring the United States up to speed with the rest of the world.

As expected, broadband access advocated and internet companies like Google and Microsoft are all for the plan. Because radio airwaves are powerful enough to transmit through walls and across large areas, companies will be motivated to create new wireless broadband networks to operate in those white spaces.

Worried that unlicensed devices on empty radio airwaves will interfere with TV signals and wireless microphones, broadcasters and other white space users have demonstrated distaste for the ruling.

"Every American who values interference-free TV should be concerned by today's Commission vote," pleaded the National Association of Broadcasters.

But by creating a database of licensed transmitters in the area, TV white spaces can be "protected" — that is, devices will not be able to transmit on a channel until they receive an "all clear" signal for that channel, according to Google's enhanced spectrum protection proposal (pdf) submitted to the FCC in March.

Current users of wireless microphones (i.e., Broadway theaters, other non-licensed users) will have to register their locations in the database. New devices must have geo-location and database access capabilities, or alternatively, spectrum-sensing capabilities.

Google also proposed that channels 36-38 be a "safe harbor" and that no device transmit on that channel, which is good news for services licensed to use channel 37, including medical telemetry and radio astronomy.