The FCC is looking at using part of the TV signal spectrum to provide wireless high-speed internet. It is a brilliant idea that is being opposed by a large part of the television industry.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "The Federal Communications Commission will have the final say in the battle between the broadcasters -- which fear interference on the airwaves they'll still be using -- and the companies including Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG). and Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) that want to share the television airwaves."
The fight is a classic example of old media not wanting to give up something that it has "owned" for years because it may help new competition.
Tough luck. Broadband adoption in the U.S. is behind several countries in Europe and Asia, and if the FCC can offer an inexpensive solution to that, it should. The new over-the-air system would have many of the benefits of Wi-Fi, but would be more broadly available.
TV broadcasters say that the new technology could interfere with their signals, but testing can demonstrate whether that is true or not. The FCC has the chance to move broadband adoption forward with one spectacular decision. It should not balk at the chance.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-18-2008 @ 2:06PM
Grant said...
The proposed reassignment of airwaves is a conflict to more than analog television. Every theatre, house of worship, band with wireless gear, convention, DJ and countless others using wireless microphones will be required to junk their gear and start over. The FCC has unsuccessfully tested a high-tech concept that would alert Wi'Fi with a type of beacon alerting the device of a nearby wireless setup. Literally millions of these beacons would be needed nationwide cost billions to set up and maintain . . . It's a ridiculous proposal--Google, Motorola & the FCC need to devise another solution for their profit-driven ambitions . . .