“Rigged” Claims Google’s Larry Page over FCC white space tests
Google, Microsoft and many other companies have been pushing for the FCC to make TV white space frequencies available for broadband purposes whilst others attempt to stop it.
On Wednesday Larry Page advocated the opening of a proportion of the TV spectrum, known as the “white space” between broadcast channels 5 to 51, for wireless broadband. He also claimed that a recent “white space” device test by the FCC had been rigged to fail.
Page said, “The test was rigged deliberately. That’s the kind of thing we’ve been up against here, and I find it despicable.”
The test he is referring to was carried out in August by the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
The main aim of this was to determine whether a prototype device for transmitting wireless broadband over the unused ‘white space’ could sense the presence of wireless microphone signals.
Page claims that during these tests, wireless microphone operators decided to improperly transmit their signals on the same frequencies that were being used by white space devices. The stronger signals generated by the devices being tested naturally drowned out those of the weaker signals coming from wireless microphones.
It is TV broadcasters, telecom companies, and wireless microphone companies that among others oppose the idea, the main issue is fear it will disrupt their spectrum, and probably the more likely issue of competition from a new form of Internet service.
Mark Brunner, senior director of public and industry relations at Shure, which makes wireless microphones, refuted Page’s charges in an e-mailed statement.
“The FCC’s wireless microphone field tests were carefully planned and thoroughly executed based on sound engineering science and real-world operating scenarios,” he said. “These tests were open to the public, and those who choose to discount the results — which have not yet been published — had every option to be present and to witness them for themselves.”
If you have not yet signed the petition to free these airwaves, the you can Click Here. The FCC will be making a decision soon.
Tags: boradband, internet google, larry page, microsoft, telecom companies, TV broadcasters, White space, wireless, wireless microphone
