WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates urged U.S. communications regulators onThursday to free up more vacant television airwaves to be usedfor wireless services such as broadband Internet access.
During an appearance before a Northern Virginia technologygroup, Gates said the so-called "white space" spectrum betweenanalog broadcast channels could be used to expand access ofwireless broadband service using Wi-Fi technology.
"We’re hopeful that that will be made available so thatWi-Fi can explode in terms of its usage, even out into some ofthese less dense areas (of the United States) where distancehas been a big problem for Wi-Fi," Gates said in response to aquestion from the audience.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of technology companiesthat has been lobbying the U.S. Federal CommunicationsCommission to allow unlicensed use of white space spectrum.
The group also includes Google Inc, Dell,Intel Corp , Hewlett-Packard Co and the northAmerican unit of Philips Electronics.
However, the idea is opposed by U.S. broadcasters andmakers of wireless microphones, who fear the devices wouldcause interference.
"Broadband penetration could be drastically improved througha fixed, licensed service without interference to TV reception.Unfortunately, Microsoft continues to push for an unlicensedtechnology that simply does not work," said Dennis Wharton, aspokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters.
"TV viewers should not be inundated by the inevitableinterference caused by such faulty devices," Wharton said.
A proposal being studied by the FCC would create twocategories of users for the airwaves: one for low-power,personal, portable devices like Wi-Fi and a second group forfixed commercial operations.
The proposal would require that the devices includetechnology to identify unused spectrum and avoid interference.
The FCC currently is testing prototype devices to see ifthey can make use of the white space spectrum withoutinterfering with TV broadcasts.
Also appearing with Gates was Craig Mundie, Microsoft’schief research and strategy officer, who said a shortage ofspectrum could hurt U.S. competitiveness. He said pastdecisions have not made enough spectrum available.
"White space activity today is sort of our last hope to getsome good spectrum," Mundie said.
(Reporting by Peter Kaplan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
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