14 DAY TRIAL // The 'white space' promise continues to be enticing to tech companies as much as to the consumers. Several big tech and hardware companies, like Dell, HP, Google and Microsoft, have lobbied for the US government to open up the so-called white space, unused portions of the lower frequency spectrum usually designated to TV broadcast. One requirement before manufacturers can start offering devices using that space is a national database to keep track of the portions of the spectrum already used in every location. This database will be maintained by several private sector administrators. Google has now made its intentions of becoming one of the database administrators official in a submission to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
"In a submission to the FCC, we're asking the Commission to designate Google as one of potentially several administrators of a white spaces geolocation database," Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel at Google wrote.
"Why are we offering to do this? We continue to be big believers in the potential for this spectrum to revolutionize wireless broadband, and we think it's important for us to step forward and offer our assistance to make that vision a reality... [W]e believe we're in a strong position to build and successfully manage one," Google explained its intentions.
The first steps towards 'white space' communications have already been taken and the FCC has approved unlicensed use of the spectrum. However, in order to prevent these communications from interfering with broadcasts and devices already using the space, like licensed TV broadcasts and some wireless microphones, the FCC requires a database of all known licensed users to be deployed.
A group, which Google is a part of along with Comsearch, HP, Dell, Microsoft, Motorola and Neustar, has been set up to decide how to handle the task. Back then Google said it had no intention of becoming an administrator itself but that obviously changed. Things are very much in the planning stage though and, even if the FCC approves Google's request, the exact details of how the database will be run and by who have been carved out entirely.