WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Google on Monday launched a campaign aimed at drumming up public support for opening unused TV spectrum bands for a new generation of wireless Internet access.
The Internet search engine launched a campaign called "Free The Airwaves," which seeks expanded use of unused TV airwaves known as "white spaces."
"Freeing up the white spaces would enable innovators to blanket our nation with fast, affordable Internet access," Google product manager Minnie Ingersoll told reporters in a conference call.
TV white spaces are unused broadcast spectrums that have been typically reserved for analog transmissions of TV channels. Best put, when you're surfing through TV channels, and you come across a station that's filled with static. That's an empty or unused broadcast spectrum.
TV stations are set to switch from analog to digital signal transmission in February 2009, which means dozens of unused channels will become available.
Expanding and retooling the use of these TV spectrum bands could mean cheaper and faster Internet service as more Internet service providers compete for business.
The Federal Communications Commission is currently considering rules for opening up unused portions of white space for use by unlicensed Internet devices.
The commission is also conducting field testing on white space capabilities, which could assist with drafting those rules and regulations.
Google is campaigning for more citizens, companies and organizations to become involved.
Specific target groups for the campaign consist of rural and Native American communities across the U.S. that have been left with inconsistent or no Internet connections.
Wally Bowen, executive director for the Mountain Area Information Network of North Carolina, said rural mountain community residents can't take advantage of online health care information and services due to spotty and outdated Internet connections.
Ingersoll of Google said while the search engine is likely to benefit financially from more people gaining Internet access and surfing the Web, other advances are likely to follow.
"It would mean more competition, much better prices and a host of cutting-edge applications and devices," she said.
-By Darrell A. Hughes, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6684; darrell.hughes@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Posted to the site on 18th August 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/33111.php