Mr. Page Goes to Washington, Promotes Google's White Space Agenda

In the face of growing opposition, Google co-founder Larry Page pitched his company's plea to Congress and the Federal Communications Commission Thursday to use white space -- unused frequencies of TV -- for wireless devices.

Richard Whitt, Google's Washington Telecom and Media Counsel equated using white space as "Wi-fi on steroids," according to his blog posting on Google's Public Policy blog. "That's one of the many potential uses for the wireless spectrum that is now lying unused between TV channels," wrote Whitt.

White space is expected to be freed up next year when television will be broadcasted from digital signals rather than analog.

"Why does Google care about helping more people get access to the Web, whether it's through enhanced wi-fi or other means?" wrote Whitt. "As Larry put it, Google's mission is to organize the world's information -- but if no one has access to the Internet, what good is that effort? That's one of the big reasons Google has become steadily more engaged in spectrum policy debates in Washington."

The FCC opposes free public access of white space, arguing that it will disrupt digital television reception and wireless microphones used in live sports. Last year the FCC tested White Space prototype devices by Microsoft and failed them, saying that they caused interference.

Google isn't alone in trying to convince lawmakers and the FCC to open up the space to the public for free. The world's largest search engine is part of a coalition, The Wireless Innovation Alliance, a group of like-minded advocates that includes nemesis Microsoft, as well as Dell, HP, various lobbyists and politicians who include Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

"TV white spaces have the potential to change the way we communicate, log on, and interact," according to a statement on the alliance's Web site. "It has the potential to not only change the way we think of wireless, it has the potential to make a wireless world a reality. Utilizing the improved signal reliability and range of that spectrum will spur innovation and create new applications for consumers, students, and emergency personnel."

Not surprisingly, Google isn't totally in this for altruistic reasons, Page acknowledged.

"If we have 10 percent better connectivity in the U.S., we get 10 percent more revenue in the U.S., and those are big numbers for us," Page told Reuters.

The FCC is mulling over the issue and is not likely to make a decision until this summer.

Those who would be affected the most -- broadcasters -- took Page to task.

"Given the numerous device failures that have resulted during FCC testing, it seems a little disingenuous for Mr. Page to simply dismiss the interference concerns," executive vice president Dennis Wharton said in a statement.