White Space has Google Seeing Green

When Google sees potential in something there is probably good reason. It might mean there is a huge business potential- as in using the whitespace to earn some green.

Here is a story on why Google supported the FCC vote to open up the broadcast spectrum of "white spaces."

Google Leader Sees Green in White Space - San Francisco Chronicle

Some highlights:

White Space will open up cheaper internet to those who can't afford broadband and isolated rural areas. This will get more people using the internet. When more people use the internet regularly companies like Google can increase their users. The price of chip sets and hardware can be pushed down, enabling more wireless internet access for multiple devices.

FCC Thumbs Up Means open Skies for White Space

From Ars Technica on November 4
"The Federal Communications Commission today approved unlicensed wireless devices that operate in the empty "white space" between TV channels. In other words, after four years of effort, "white space" devices have received a unanimous green light."

Lobbyists tried hard to defeat this movement. Broadcasters did not want to simply "give it away." In the end though, the unanimous decision had bipartisan support.

Bother Democrats and Republicans on the FCC agreed. Appealing points included:
Creates A New Avenue for Broadband
Encourages Competition
Less Regulation

See: Open Skies for White Space

What is White Space?

I decided to start this blog after a conversation with a friend in the telecom industry about the future of the internet. He starting talking about "white spaces." I really had no idea what he was talking about.

I decided to do some looking around and liked what I saw about the potential of White Space Broadband.

As of last Fall ( 2008) projections were 18 months until devices are ready. But when they are ready, things look promising. As in, Internet Connections that can go through many walls and travel many miles. Wide open white spaces.