9 posts and columns on white spaces

Rural Broadband, Municipal Wi-Fi and Lots of Other Ideas Could Fill Those White Spaces

in News on December 26, 2011 at 4:00 am PT

Okay, so the FCC has finally opened up the spectrum between channels for other uses. But just what might we see, and when?
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FCC Approves First Device to Run in the “White Spaces”

in News on December 22, 2011 at 12:02 pm PT

For now, service is limited to one city in North Carolina, but the FCC is working to make the unlicensed spectrum available nationwide.
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News Byte

FCC Gives Green Light on White Spaces for "Super Wi-Fi"

in News on September 23, 2010 at 10:40 am PT

The five members of the FCC voted unanimously today to open up white spaces–unused airwaves between TV stations–to deliver “super Wi-Fi” with the ability to penetrate walls, leap tall buildings and deliver much greater range at higher speeds than Wi-Fi as we know it now. Development in the arena is expected to drive billions of dollars of investment by industry leaders who have been chomping at the bit since the agency first voted to allow the use of white space in 2008, when opposition from TV broadcasters held the plan back.

Google and Yahoo, Ahem, "Downsize" Ad Pact

in News on November 5, 2008 at 11:00 am PT

Google and Yahoo, Ahem, “Downsize” Ad Pact

in News on November 5, 2008 at 11:00 am PT

Crucial Dolly Parton Endorsement Fails to Swing "White Spaces" Vote

in News on November 5, 2008 at 5:48 am PT

Over the objections of television broadcasters, theater producers and Dolly Parton, the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday approved a plan to open up unused frequencies between television channels–known as “white spaces”–for a national broadband network. This 300MHz to 400MHz range of unused spectrum lies between channels 2 to 51 on analog television sets and is perfect for offering wireless broadband services because it’s able to carry signals long distances and easily penetrate trees and walls. And while critics argue that using them in this way might interfere with TV signals or, heaven forbid, the wireless microphones in Dolly Parton’s Broadway production of “9 to 5,” the FCC felt such concerns to be overblown and ruled the country would be better served if the spectrum were opened up for free public use.

Crucial Dolly Parton Endorsement Fails to Swing “White Spaces” Vote

in News on November 5, 2008 at 5:48 am PT

Over the objections of television broadcasters, theater producers and Dolly Parton, the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday approved a plan to open up unused frequencies between television channels–known as “white spaces”–for a national broadband network. This 300MHz to 400MHz range of unused spectrum lies between channels 2 to 51 on analog television sets and is perfect for offering wireless broadband services because it’s able to carry signals long distances and easily penetrate trees and walls. And while critics argue that using them in this way might interfere with TV signals or, heaven forbid, the wireless microphones in Dolly Parton’s Broadway production of “9 to 5,” the FCC felt such concerns to be overblown and ruled the country would be better served if the spectrum were opened up for free public use.

T-Mobile to FCC: We Would Agree With You if You Were Right

in News on October 13, 2008 at 4:59 pm PT

The Federal Communications Commission has concluded that a free national broadband network established in the so-called “white spaces” of the AWS-3 band would not cause major interference with other services, paving the way for a sale of those airwaves at a federal auction. An unfortunate turn of events for T-Mobile, which has been aggressively lobbying against the idea.