White Spaces

Currently, wireless internet is most commonly provided via WiFi or via cellular signal. Cellular carriers own that signal, and they impose their own costs and restrictions on the service. There are frequencies between these cellular bands, though, and there are some companies trying to harvest that power for more universal, widespread broadband deployment. Here we’ll cover the latest developments with white spaces and how they can create fuller, richer broadband networks.

4G technology will extend beyond phones, laptops

October 29, 2009

As it currently stands, 3G wireless services are used mainly on two devices: cell phones and laptops (including netbooks). This is mainly due to limitations of 3G networks. Yes, they can cover large areas, but they’re limited in speed and capacity. This has led to a number of restrictions on their usage — companies limit [...]

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Broadcasters sue FCC over white spaces

March 9, 2009

We’ve talked a bit about white spaces before. They’re essentially the slices of spectrum between broadcast channels. Tapped properly, they can provide valuable wireless Internet services. Best of all, by using them we’re using a resource we simply did not before. It’s like the Native Americans using every bit of the buffalo they slew. Yet [...]

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Canada to consider using white spaces

February 5, 2009

We’ve seen the debate on white spaces unfold in the U.S. Google brought the concept to national prominence, and a number of fellow tech companies — namely Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Phillips Electronics — came out in support of it. This was, of course, much to the chagrin of cellular operators, who only see it [...]

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FCC cancels meeting re: free Internet

December 15, 2008

So we know the FCC is considering a plan to auction off what are termed white spaces in a proposed plan to provide free broadband access across the country. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who has fallen under some criticism in recent times, favors the plan, while lame duck President George Bush opposes it. The commission [...]

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President Bush opposes free national mobile broadband

December 12, 2008

Thankfully, his term ends in just over a month. That, however, will not stop President Bush from voicing his displeasure with the free broadband Internet plan currently under consideration at the FCC. Why? I think the linked Chattahbox article has it right: It’s along the lines of the executive’s free-market principles. Which at this point [...]

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FCC chair wants to offer porn-free Internet

December 2, 2008

Despite being a lame duck FCC chairman, Kevin Martin still wants to get something done with free wireless Internet. His Commission met for December, and they’re looking to push a wireless broadband program that would provide free service to anyone who wants it. Sounds killer. The catch, of course, is that it would contain a [...]

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FCC approves white space plan

November 6, 2008

This week marks a significant moment in wireless broadband. The FCC has voted unanimously to use the free spaces within the TV frequencies for mobile broadband services. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the plan will move forward with anything resembling speed. Instead, it is expected that a number of lawsuits will hamper the measure. [...]

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Dolly Parton recruited to take down white spaces proposal

October 28, 2008

It appears as though broadcasters are getting serious in their opposition of white spaces, the frequencies between the frequencies which companies like Google believe can provide free broadband Internet to the masses. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin seems to agree, as he’s been talking about the benefits of white spaces for a few months now. However, [...]

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FCC chair supports using white spaces for mobile broadband

October 16, 2008

It’s a good day for those interested in wireless Internet. Since the end of the 700 MHz spectrum auction earlier this year, Google has been petitioning the FCC to examine the power of white spaces, those airwaves between licensed spectrum, for public use. Many telecoms have disputed the usefulness of white spaces, saying that they [...]

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