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On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the FCC approved the use of TV white space spectrum for unlicensed wireless devices. Here are some of the reactions to the Federal Communications Commission decision: "The Alliance and our members commend the OET and the FCC for their leadership and expertise all along the way, even in the face of the ever-constant rhetoric and misinformation. They deserve a tremendous amount of respect and credit for remaining focused on the science and the data amid a difficult political atmosphere. OET's report will now enable the Commission to set standards and specifications for the development and use of white space technology. But most importantly, it has paved the way for the next generation of wireless technologies, broadband deployment, and information sharing that will benefit every American in the coming years." --Jake Ward, Wireless Innovation Alliance spokesman "While we appreciate the FCC's attempt to address significant issues raised by broadcasters and others, every American who values interference-free TV should be concerned by today's Commission vote. By moving the 'white space' vote forward, the Commission appears to have bypassed meaningful public or peer review in a proceeding of grave importance to the future of television." --National Association of Broadcasters Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton "This is a clear victory for Internet users and anyone who wants good wireless communications... "I've always thought that there are a lot of really incredible things that engineers and entrepreneurs can do with this spectrum. We will soon have " WiFi on steroids ," since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today's WiFi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost. And it is wonderful that the FCC has adopted the same successful unlicensed model used for WiFi, which has resulted in a projected 1 billion Wi-Fi chips being produced this year. Now that the FCC has set the rules, I'm sure that we'll see similar growth in products to take advantage of this spectrum. " --Larry Page, Co-Founder and President of Products of Google "The FCC has taken a significant step to usher in a new era of technology allowing for major investments in innovative wireless broadband, education, and government/enterprise applications to spur economic development. Motorola looks forward to developing...

Google co-founder Larry Page yesterday said 16,000 people have signed a Google-sponsored petition in support of using unlicensed white-space spectrum for broadband wireless. Page was speaking at an event sponsored by the Wireless Innovation Alliance in Washington, D.C., that attracted a wide range of attendees, including representatives from Microsoft and Motorola. In August, the search giant launched a web site called, www.freetheairwaves.com , on which visitors could sign a petition urging the FCC to open up unused TV airwaves for super WiFi-like services Google calls WiFi 2.0. The intention of the site was to get the common person involved in the debate by featuring YouTube videos that explain white space. White space is the unused slivers of spectrum in the 700 MHz band between spectrum used by broadcast TV stations. Google advocates using those slices of spectrum to bring broadband wireless access to rural areas of the United States. Some U.S. wireless carriers oppose the use of white space in an unlicensed manner, with Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA arguing it should be licensed and used for backhaul. The National Association of Broadcasters also opposes the idea, and says unlicensed devices will produce too much interference, and that tests on equipment to determine whether or not there would be interference have failed. The FCC has yet to declare specific regulations for white-space, and it is still unclear whether a decision will be announced before the November elections. Page also repeatedly brought up the statistic that there currently are 1 billion devices worldwide using WiFi technology on a 2.4 GHz spectrum; and said he was "amazed we're in the state of the debate we are in," calling it a "no brainer" to increase the "tiny slice" of spectrum WiFi technology currently operates on. "Having a greater radius of signal that you can provide cheaply is a huge economic advantage to the U.S. and the world," he said. Mark Berejka, senior director for technology policy and strategy at Microsoft, took aim at the U.S. wireless industry, and said its claims about white space should be probed more deeply. Like a politician would on the stump, he told a story about a small rural wireless ISP that could not use point-to-point microwave spectrum for backhaul for Internet traffic, and was being "extorted" by its competitor for backhaul support. U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., appeared unannounced to deliver an...

Speaking at a New America Foundation event yesterday in Washington, D.C., Google co-founder Larry Page tried to bolster his firm's case for the FCC to make white spaces--vacant channels of Read more...