FCC Strikes Down Net-Over-TV Device

The FCC has struck down a proposal brought forth by several technology companies that utilizes unused portions of TV spectrum for high-speed Internet.

Supported by companies such as Microsoft, Dell, and Google, the device uses what is called "white space" to deliver Internet, especially in rural areas. However, the FCC said the products shown did not reliably find unused spectrum, and would cause interference.

The White Spaces Coalition is the group responsible for the effort, and said its own test conflicts with the findings of the FCC. It said Wednesday that it planned to work with the agency to answer its questions, and also identify the discrepancies between the FCC's and its own findings.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin apparently wished to stress that the denial of the proposal was not a rejection of the idea itself: he said the agency was still very interested in finding a way to use "white space" to deliver Internet access.

Supporters of the technology claim that the frequencies, which reside between 54MHz and 698MHz (the analog television band) could be capable of delivering speeds of 50 to 100MBps for "single use application."

Service would begin once broadcasters migrate to their new digital television channels. The White Spaces Coalition is fighting broadcasters though: many believe that the technology will cause interference, which the FCC seems to agree with.

This may be a baseless worry however: even if the device is approved later this year and moves into production, it appears none would be sold until February 18, 2009 when the analog- to-digital television transition is actually completed.