It has taken a long time for this to come about, but what is knows as ‘white-space’ is going to be opened to all companies in the U.S. The white-space is the spectrum between TV signals that will be opened and available for wireless Internet connections and mobile-phone traffic. This could ease the sluggishness that some iPhone users have experienced. What is also going to be welcomed is that providers will be able to use the white-space in all cities of the U.S.
So who might be interested in these airwaves. Here is a list of companies that are currently waiting in the wings. Microsoft, Google, Inc., HP, Motorola and Sprint just to name a few. In a recent article it also stated that:
White-space applications may generate $3.9 billion to $7.3 billion in economic value each year, according to a September 2009 study funded by Microsoft and written by Richard Thanki, a London-based analyst with Perspective Associates.
New York and Los Angeles, the nation’s two biggest media markets with multiple TV stations, may have few vacant channels for the devices, according to a FCC fact sheet. Most markets have five or more empty channels.
Users of the white-space airwaves won’t need a FCC license, leaving them free to create devices for applications yet to be developed, Genachowski said in an interview before the vote.
Opposed to the proposal is AT&T. I wonder why?
The FCC is also wants to ease rules for schools and libraries to use government funds for high-speed Internet connections.
Hopefully this could bring broadband to more rural areas as well.
Comments welcome.