FCC Issues Ruling on TV's

WASHINGTON,
D.C., November 5: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has cleared the
way for unused TV spectrum—also known as "white
spaces"—to be used for the delivery of broadband services, in a move
opposed by U.S. broadcasters.

The
networks had argued that their own transmissions would be
interfered with by new wireless broadband devices using that unused spectrum.
"Every American who values
interference-free TV should be concerned by [the] commission vote," said a
statement from the National Association of Broadcasters.

The
FCC, however, maintains that such disruption is not a significant risk. "The Commission will act promptly to remove from the
market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference and will require
the responsible parties to take appropriate actions to remedy any interference
that may occur," the FCC said in a statement.

The
move is a boon to technology companies like Google and Microsoft that are keen
to tap into the unused spectrum to expand broadband availability. Larry Page, Google's
co-founder and president of products, said in a blog post: "We think that
this spectrum will help put better and faster Internet connections in the hands
of the public."

"White
spaces are the blank pages on which we which we will write our broadband
future," said Jonathan Adelstein, one the five FCC commission members.

—By
Mansha Daswani