Search Engine Optimization News Blog

Google has taken another step towards more access for all, reports the Google Blog. It’s a path they’ve been pursuing for a while – the goal being to get the ‘WiFi on steroids’.

In May 2008, Larry Page told New American Foundation:

The U.S. has slipped from third to sixteenth in broadband penetration rates, in part because the U.S. has not shown leadership in encouraging greater broadband access. Utilizing the unused TV “white spaces” for broadband access would be a tremendous opportunity to bring the Internet to more Americans — including those in rural areas and first responders. Because of the much longer range of these spectrum signals, wireless broadband access utilizing the TV white spaces could be brought to more consumers using fewer base stations — in effect, “wi-fi on steriods”

In November 2008 he rejoiced that the FFC was passing legislation, saying:

All eyes are on the presidential election today, but another important vote just took place at the Federal Communications Commission. By a vote of 5-0, the FCC formally agreed to open up the “white spaces” spectrum — the unused airwaves between broadcast TV channels — for wireless broadband service for the public. This is a clear victory for Internet users and anyone who wants good wireless communications.

In February 2009, Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel informed Google Blog readers:

Since November’s big vote at the FCC, some have begun asking when we’ll start seeing consumer mobile devices take advantage of TV white spaces spectrum.

As the Commission made clear in its ruling, a working white spaces database must be deployed in order for consumer devices to be available in the market. Before sending or receiving data, devices will be required to access this database to determine available channels in the vicinity. Combined with spectrum sensing technologies, use of a geo-location database will offer complete protection to licensed signals from harmful interference.

With this mandate in mind, this morning we joined Comsearch, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Motorola, and Neustar to launch the White Spaces Database Group.

And the latest word from Whitt is that Google has formally requested to be one of the administrators of this white space:

Why are we offering to do this? We continue to be big believers in the potential for this spectrum to revolutionize wireless broadband, and we think it’s important for us to step forward and offer our assistance to make that vision a reality. Since launching the White Spaces Database Group last February, we’ve been working with other stakeholders to exchange ideas and perspectives on how to best operate a working database, and we believe we’re in a strong position to build and successfully manage one.

We propose to build a database that is publicly accessible and searchable, so that any individual could access and review the data.

Google keeps making strides to be more and more in control of everything data connected. Keep watch for more reports on this interesting situation, and read the full submission from Google to the Commission here.

Google provides WiFi free to residents of headquarters Mountain View, and over the holiday upped the ante a little:

Call it an early holiday gift from Google to millions of airline passengers. Google said will be offering free Wi-Fi to travelers across the United States starting Tuesday at 47 airports. Google says the Wi-Fi will be available until January 15, 2010. Google says it will also extend the free Wi-Fi offer to Virgin America flights within the continental United States.

Not to be outdone, Yahoo announced they will provide free WiFi in Time Square for a year.