In Search of Wireless Wiggle Room

IN SEARCH OF WIRELESS WIGGLE ROOM
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Judith Chevalier, Yale]
[Commentary] There are signs that the existing order in the wireless world may finally be changing. This month, despite the opposition of companies like Verizon, the Federal Communications Commission reiterated that its coming auction of wireless spectrum would include rules intended to give consumers more choices in the phones they can use. These “open access” auction rules have already received considerable attention, but the commission also faces other decisions that will significantly affect the availability and the price of wireless service. Google and other technology companies, including Dell, Philips and Microsoft, are part of a group called the White Space Coalition that is asking the F.C.C. to open up the empty space between assigned TV channels to unlicensed users and devices. While there is certainly a risk that white-space Internet devices could interfere with some television signals, the potential for cheap, accessible wireless broadband is too great to pass up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/business/media/21view.html?ref=todaysp...
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* NAB Cites Yet More 'White Spaces' Doubters
Reps Tom Tancredo (R-CO) and Christopher Sahys (R-CT) have sent letters to the FCC with concerns about allowing unlicensed mobile devices to use so-called white spaces.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6492862.html