During an appearance before a technology
group, Bill Gates said the"white space" spectrum between
analog broadcast channels could be used to expand access of
wireless broadband service using Wi-Fi.
WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates urged U.S. communications regulators on
Thursday to free up more vacant television airwaves to be used
for wireless services such as broadband Internet access.
During an appearance before a Northern Virginia technology
group, Gates said the so-called "white space" spectrum between
analog broadcast channels could be used to expand access of
wireless broadband service using Wi-Fi technology.
"We're hopeful that that will be made available so that
Wi-Fi can explode in terms of its usage, even out into some of
these less dense areas (of the United States) where distance
has been a big problem for Wi-Fi," Gates said in response to a
question from the audience.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of technology companies
that has been lobbying the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission to allow unlicensed use of white space spectrum.
The group also includes Google Inc, Dell,
Intel Corp , Hewlett-Packard Co and the north
American unit of Philips Electronics.
However, the idea is opposed by U.S. broadcasters and
makers of wireless microphones, who fear the devices would
cause interference.
"Broadband penetration could be drastically improved through
a fixed, licensed service without interference to TV reception.
Unfortunately, Microsoft continues to push for an unlicensed
technology that simply does not work," said Dennis Wharton, a
spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters.
"TV viewers should not be inundated by the inevitable
interference caused by such faulty devices," Wharton said.
A proposal being studied by the FCC would create two
categories of users for the airwaves: one for low-power,
personal, portable devices like Wi-Fi and a second group for
fixed commercial operations.
The proposal would require that the devices include
technology to identify unused spectrum and avoid interference.
The FCC currently is testing prototype devices to see if
they can make use of the white space spectrum without
interfering with TV broadcasts.
Also appearing with Gates was Craig Mundie, Microsoft's
chief research and strategy officer, who said a shortage of
spectrum could hurt U.S. competitiveness. He said past
decisions have not made enough spectrum available.
"White space activity today is sort of our last hope to get
some good spectrum," Mundie said.
(Reporting by Peter Kaplan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
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