I had posted about the upcoming 700MHz wireless spectrum auction earlier this month in FCC Auctions Portion of Radio Spectrum, but I've recently read quite a few posts and articles that discussed the White Spaces Coalition (WSC) and their proposal to deliver high speed, wireless, internet access by using the existing white space (between channels) in the television spectrum. The coalition claims that broadband access could be available at speeds of 10Mbps and above, and for short-range networks available at speeds of 50-100Mbps.
The WSC primarily consists of public members, namely eight, well-known technology companies; Dell, Earthlink, Google, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Philips and Samsung, but there are also some members who wish to remain anonymous. The coalition was formed in 2006 shortly after the Senate set the date to cease analog broadcasts and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to open up the white spaces to use by unlicensed consumer electronics.
Ars Technica had some pretty good information on the coalition and their efforts here, but it didn't sound like they were having much luck with the FCC:
"...the coalition submitted a prototype device to the FCC for testing in March. The first device malfunctioned and got a failing grade from the FCC; the Commission neglected to test another device submitted in May.
In a subsequent filing, the White Spaces Coalition argued that, since the second prototype device passed its tests with 100 percent accuracy, the FCC should direct its attention towards crafting rules to govern how, exactly, the empty digital TV spectrum should be used for wireless broadband."
While all of this sounds like a good idea, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is critical of this plan, claiming that usage of the white space could interfere with normal broadcasts. I know that the spectrum coming up for auction is considered prime real estate and can imagine others are looking for any opportunity to utilize other portions of the spectrum.
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