FCC Likely to Recommend Unlicensed Spectrum Use

WASHINGTON(Reuters) – A battle between tech companies like Google Inc andbroadcasters over use of soon-to-be vacant airwaves will heat up soonas U.S. regulators release an anticipated report on the issue.

The Federal Communications Commission’s report will weigh in asearly as Friday on the feasibility of opening up "white spaces" –unused pockets of the spectrum to become available when broadcastersmove completely to digital television next year — for unlicensed use.

Google, Microsoft Corp and others want the spaces for a newgeneration of wireless devices. So-called incumbents on the space,including broadcasters and wireless phone companies, oppose unlicenseduse, worrying that it would create interference and other technicalproblems.

High-tech companies "see this as a way to sell more devices and moreservices," said Harold Feld, senior vice president with the MediaAccess Project, a consumer group that backs the idea.

"We care about the people who are probably not ever going to buytheir high-end devices," he said. "For them, this will bring cheaperbroadband to places in rural and inner-city neighborhoods."

The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents the bignetworks like Walt Disney Co’s ABC and General Electric’s NBC, fiercelyopposes the idea.

All sides have been waiting for an FCC engineering report that willlay out results of several years of data collection, including fieldtests on Broadway in New York City and at FedEx Field in Maryland.

The white-space airwaves could become available in February, when TVbroadcasters switch from analog to more efficient digital signals.

"The (FCC) chairman has had a strong interest in pursuing theunlicensed model on a test basis," said Stanford Washington ResearchGroup analyst Paul Gallant. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the Commissionmoved in that direction."

(Reporting by Kim Dixon; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)