Mountain View, California-based Internet search giant Google renewed pressure on regulators to approve a  "white-space" plan that would allow mobile Web devices to operate at high speeds on unused portions of airwaves between television signals in late 2009 after broadcasters convert to digital delivery, filing an open letter late Friday with the Federal Communications Commission. The Google plan, built on technology under development since 2002, attempts to allay longstanding signal interference concerns from broadcasters and sports leagues. White Spaces Coalition Pressures FCC "The spectrum is way too valuable to be wasted," said Richard S. Whitt, a Google lawyer specializing in media and telecommunications law, in a Monday morning conference call, and noted that some 95 percent of so-called white-space surrounding United States television signals is currently unused. "Google is a strong believer in the potential of this spectrum to bring Internet access to more Americans," Whitt added. Google is a member of the Wireless Innovation Alliance's and the White Spaces Coalition, groups that include Intel, Dell, Royal Philips Electronics and software giant Microsoft, whose co-founder Bill Gates recently asked the FCC to open up unlicensed access to the white-space signals for wireless broadband use. While Google and Microsoft are both pressuring the FCC to allow consumers access to the white-space spectrum, Whitt made clear that the suggestions Google made Monday were developed solely by the search leader, and also said that Google isn't interested in building its own wireless network or becoming a wireless broadband provider. Google hopes to ride on the increasing popularity of Internet services for wireless devices, and with recent reports revealing that mobile technology is outselling traditional desktop computer systems, FCC approval of the white-space spectrum could give Google a way to provide mobile service to a potentially large number of consumers who may later this year be using cell phones running the firm's Android open source mobile operating system, and also stands to reap the rewards of providing any such users the targeted online advertisements which have become a Google staple. Broadcasters and Sports Leagues Among Opponents Although it didn't win last week's battle for either of the two most sought after portions of wireless spectrum during the FCC auction, Google may have won the war, having pushed bidding high enough, at over $4.6 billion, to ensure more open access to any service auction  winner Verizon provides using the airwaves it won with a bid of $4.74 billion. Google succeeded in having open access rules put in place for the portion of the 700-megahertz wireless spectrum Verizon won, and now it hopes it will find the same kind of success as it pressures the FCC to open the white-space airwaves. Google proposed a plan that would sense when portions of the white-space spectrum need to be used by the government or military, and has supported and expanded a plan proposed in 2007 by Motorola that would ensure high-speed wireless access does not interfere with television and wireless microphone signals. Businesses using wireless microphones have joined broadcasters in expressing concerns that mobile access provided by white-space spectrum could cause signal interference or interruption, such as the National Football League, which has speculated about the possible dangers of "debilitating interference" from such uses. Should the FCC allow the white-space use Google, Microsoft and others are pressuring for, it "continues to be a guaranteed recipe for producing interference and should not be allowed under any circumstances," according to the National Association of Broadcasters executive vice president and spokesman Dennis Wharton. Last year Wharton said his group wanted the FCC to wait until the transition to digital television signals is complete before taking on the white-space issues. "There are serious interference issues with unlicensed devices," Wharton said. "Our suggestion to the FCC is, let's get through the analog transition to digital TV before we suggest introducing unlicensed devices onto airwaves that could cause disruption to millions of TV viewers," added Wharton. Concerts also make use of the white-space, and oppose plans that might cause interference, as do certain other professional and college sports organizations. A Faster and More Far-Reaching Method The white-space spectrum, which is located between channels 2 and 51 on televisions receiving traditional analog broadcast signals, has the potential to carry mobile Internet traffic at significantly higher speeds than present systems, and with a broader coverage area in the U.S. Should the FCC approve open access to the white-space spectrum, Internet speeds of gigabits-per-second could be possible across the U.S., with signals well-suited to traveling long distances and through buildings and other obstacles. The comments Google filed with the FCC envision low-power mobile devices accessing high-speed white-space connections without any interference issues. The Google plan "will eliminate any remaining legitimate concerns about the merits of using the white space for unlicensed personal [or] portable devices," Google said Monday. Calling the plan Google has presented "Wi-Fi 2.0" or "Wi-Fi on steroids," Whitt noted in the Monday conference call that it represents a "unique opportunity to provide ubiquitous wireless access for all Americans." Google is pressuring the FCC in part to ensure consumers have more mobile access choices than current wireless providers can provide, with its own plan that could "enable much-needed competition to the incumbent broadband service providers," Whitt wrote in the six-page Google FCC filing. Google Laments Underutilized Spectrum That the white-space area presently sits mostly unused formed another front in the Google plan to pressure the FCC. "As Google has pointed out previously, the vast majority of viable spectrum in this country simply goes unused, or else is grossly underutilized," Whitt said. "This is a large amount of untapped spectrum and  you've got people in Silicon Valley and lots of smart entrepreneurs just itching to find ways to use it," added Whitt. Most of Friday's filing centered around detailing a system designed to eliminate interference with television broadcasts and microphones. "We're doing this because we want everybody to be satisfied with this process," Whitt said Monday. "We think it's the right time to put these ideas in the record and see where they go," he added. It is generally believed that most of the FCC commissioners are open to opening up the white-space spectrum to new uses, including chairman Kevin Martin, with the understanding that such uses can take place without any interference to broadcast television signals. Google appears ready to make the case that the time is right to open up the white-space airwaves with proper safeguards in place. "No product will come to market unless the FCC can verify that the device does not interfere with TV or wireless microphone signals," Whitt said. Industry Reaction One member of the popular online discussion forums operated by WebmasterWorld, a community of mostly technically-savvy webmasters and search engine marketing (SEM) professionals founded by chief executive Brett Tabke, reacted positively to Google's move placing it against existing mobile service providers. "Google is flexing its muscle to wrestle out a bunch of old players holding tight and choking a currently closed market," wrote a WebmasterWorld member using the handle "Hugene." Another WebmasterWorld member, using the handle "jimbeetle" concluded that, "There's going to be a lot of pushback on this across the board, from the television stations that say their frequencies are being infringed upon, to the folks that are paying big bucks for licenses." Google Renews Pressure On Free Airwaves Plan The Google plan calls for setting up a designated portion of the white-space spectrum that could be used by wireless microphones and other licensed devices, along with other methods to ensure all systems involved would operate simultaneously without interference. As part of its plan presented to the FCC, Google would provide certain levels of technical support. "Google also would be willing to provide, at no cost to third parties, the technical support necessary to make these plans happen," Whitt said. The FCC, which has been considering uses of the white-space spectrum since 2002, is not expected to release its rules governing how the airwaves can be used until later this year, Whitt said. Related Links:
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