MuniWireless

The FCC voted unanimously today to open up unused TV frequencies for use by wireless devices. Companies such as Google and Microsoft had lobbied hard for the ruling. Broadcasters opposed it, claiming that the devices would interfere with TV broadcasts. The FCC’s ruling contains conditions upon which such devices can be licensed:

“The rules will allow for both fixed and personal/portable unlicensed devices. Such devices must include a geolocation capability and provisions to access over the Internet a database of the…

Google is upping the ante in the ongoing White Spaces issue, announcing today a public advocacy campaign designed to put pressure on the FCC and Washington lawmakers to free up the so-called “white spaces” of wireless spectrum that exists between broadcast TV channels. While the jury is still out on whether this idea can work technically to everyone’s satisfaction, there’s little doubt that finding more spectrum for broadband communications here in the U.S. is a good idea.

While some folks like…