Microsoft's Gates steps up FCC "white space" lobbying

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bill Gates and other Microsoft Corp officials stepped up lobbying of top U.S. communications regulators on Monday, ahead of an important vote next week to open up unused wireless airwaves.

The Federal Communications Commission has scheduled a November 4 vote on a plan to allow unlicensed use of parts of the airwaves called "white spaces." These pockets of the spectrum will become available when U.S. broadcasters are required to move completely to digital television next year." }-
REUTERS (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE49Q68T20081027?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews)

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: "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.

Denying a tremendous last-minute lobbying effort by broadcasters, the vote on white space devices went ahead as planned today after a several-hour delay at FCC headquarters. When the vote came, though, it was unanimous. For the Democrats on the Commission, the devices are appealing because they offer a potential new avenue for broadband services, while the Republicans are pleased for the same reasons, but love the fact that this is a deregulatory order that focuses on less regulation and more competition. " }-
ars technica (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081104-open-skies-for-white-space-broadband-as-fcc-gives-thumbs-up.html)

[ronjor]

Tech groups applaud FCC white spaces vote-{ Quote: ""This is an historic vote for our national economy, for consumer choice and more competitive broadband markets," said Wally Bowen, executive director of the Mountain Area Information Network, a broadband provider based in Ashville, N.C. "Most of all, it is a victory for those areas of rural America and underserved urban neighborhoods, which have too long been denied the benefits of affordable high-speed Internet access."" }-Article. (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9119227)

[Pedro]

-{ Quote: ""The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Second Report and Order that establishes rules to allow new, sophisticated wireless devices to operate in broadcast television spectrum on a secondary basis at locations where that spectrum is open." }-
Slashdot (http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/19/1934231&)