MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Google plans to have Americans surfing the Internet on handheld gadgets at gigabits-per-second speeds by the 2009 holiday season, according to a proposal announced Monday.
Google, joined by Microsoft and Dell, has been lobbying for the Federal Communications Commission to free up unused broadcast TV channels known as "white spaces" for unlicensed use by personal devices. This TV band is sought after because it can propagate long distances and through obstacles, while also possessing the bandwidth to support data rates that are vastly faster than today's standard Internet service.
Richard Whitt, Google's telecommunications counsel, called it "Wi-Fi on steroids," or "Wi-Fi 2.0."
Google filed a six-page letter to the FCC on Friday in an attempt to erase lingering concerns of TV broadcasters and microphone manufacturers, who are worried about harmful interference caused by the entry of new devices.
"We're doing this because we want everybody to be satisfied with this process," Whitt said. "We think it's the right time to put these ideas in the record and see where they go."
Google has no interest in becoming a wireless service provider or building a network of its own, Whitt said, but the company envisions the white spaces as a "unique opportunity to provide ubiquitous wireless access for all Americans" and a prime spot for use of mobile handsets running its open-source Android platform. The company hopes to send its Android devices out as soon as this summer or fall, Whitt said.
The FCC isn't expected to issue rules for use of the white-space spectrum for several months, Whitt said. Agency engineers are still testing early-stage devices submitted by Microsoft and Phillips for interference issues.
Google proposed setting up a "safe harbor" between channels 37 and 39. Wireless microphones and other licensed devices would be allowed to operate, but unlicensed white-space devices would not.
The company also urged the FCC to not discount the promise of "spectrum-sensing" technologies, which, for example, are supported by 802.11a-based Wi-Fi to protect military radars from interference.
Google also offered to provide no-cost "technical support" to third parties hoping to use the white spaces, if the spectrum were opened up.
Even if the regulators approve use of the white spaces, Whitt said, "no product will come to market unless the FCC can verify that the device does not interfere with TV or wireless microphone signals."
Representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters and wireless microphone manufacturers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
Google's renewed white-spaces push arrives days after the FCC ended an auction of the remaining portion of the 700 MHz broadcast TV spectrum being vacated for the switch to digital in 2009. The company was active at the event, lobbying beforehand for "open access" conditions allowing consumers to attach whatever devices or run whatever applications they please.
Google committed to bidding $4.6 billion for the open-access spectrum block, but the FCC announced last week that Verizon Wireless had won those licenses.
Whitt said he couldn't say the proposal had nothing to do with the auction results, but because of FCC rules, he isn't allowed to comment further on Google's involvement in the auction until the end of next week.
