Google Lobbying To Open Up Unused Broadcast Spectrum
Google is eyeing on the great resource and the potential of which is yet to be untapped. There is a whole range of broadcast spectrum which is currently not being used and Google is trying to have this spectrum allocated for the latest mobile and wireless devices. Larry Page, the co-founder of Google tried to persuade the Federal Communications Commission yesterday along with the members of Congress to open up this spectrum This is a very bold move by Google and it shows how desperately Google wants to get into the mobile space because it sees that future is definitely going to be an era ruled by mobile devices. So Google is making very decisive moves in this direction and this is no secret.
According to Larry Page, this is the apt time for the Federal Communications Commission to act and he is hoping that Google’s move will bear fruit before the election takes place. Larry Page shared this in a meeting on Capitol Hill about a possible coalition that seeks the unlicensed usage of the White Space or the unused TV spectrum. Larry Page is going to play the role of “Go-Getter” and he is going to make a two day trip to the Capital. During his trip he will meet all the 5 FCC commissioners and a number of other Congress members. According to Google spokesman Adam Kovacevich, Larry Page will also meet Sen. Barbara Boxer who is from California.
However, FCC is already looking at the feasibilities in this regard. According to the FCC Chairman, Kevin Martin that the commission will publish the working rules on usage of the spectrum before the end of 2008. Feasibility tests are underway to ensure that there is no interference of the signals with the TV signals or with the signals of microphone. FCC will not be able to open up the spectrum even if it wants to if the signals interfere with the TV signals or wireless microphone signals.
Currently the White Space or the unused spectrum is not used efficiently if we put effective systems in place to efficiently handle the usage of broadcast spectrum. The white space Google thinks can be positively used for all commercial services besides TV. But many broadcasters feel that this may have technical issues and the signals may interfere. Besides that they are not ready to support the unlicensed usage of the spectrum. We can easily guess that even if FCC opens up the spectrum there is going to be some kind of system that will keep a tab on the white space and it is certainly not going to be unlicensed usage.
The debate continues as the issues on interference remains unsettled. Those who are keen in entering into the white space are arguing that there is no real threat on interference but this is a ploy used by the broadcasters to ensure that the white space is kept intact for their later use. This debate is very likely to end in favor of Google and its supporters.