This test has apparently been in progress for a while in a rather isolated part of California (covering Plumas, Lassen and Sierra Counties), in fact, and Google, Spectrum Bridge, and the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative feel everything’s going well.

An official statement explained, "The applications deployed for the Plumas-Sierra ‘Smart Grid’ wireless network trial deliver real-time broadband connectivity to remote substations and switchgear, allowing PSREC System Operators to manage the Electrical system remotely, request critical data from substations, manage power flow and protect the system and employees while maintaining the local grid."

What’s more, this has turned into an opportunity for Google’s PowerMeter to be deployed, and "[t]he wireless network is also providing broadband access to an underserved community."

Just about everyone (except potential competitors) appears to be benefiting, then, and not a single drawback’s been identified (the organizations even took care that this white space experiment wouldn’t interfere with the reception regular TV channels).

Despite sharing all this promising information, Google and Spectrum Bridge weren’t quite ready to say when similar experiments might be repeated in other areas, however.

Technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Dell, and HP, and groups like FreePress, Media Access Project, Public Knowledge, and the New America Foundation want the US government to allow the development of devices that tune in unused spectrum for mobile broadband and other wireless functions.

The WIA says the use of white spaces will reveolutionize communications in America. "We are living through a critical juncture in communications history — a moment when technological innovation has the opportunity to dramatically improve our access to information and quality of life,” said Michael Calabrese, Vice President of the New America Foundation and Director of its Wireless Future Program, in a statement.

“Much as telephones, radios, and TVs revolutionized telecommunications in previous generations, white space devices will transform every aspect of civil society. White space devices provide an innovative platform for a new generation of technologies, services, and applications — they are the building blocks of a 21st century communications infrastructure."

Shortly after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rejected a white spaces device in August (FCC engineers neglected to test the backup device, much to Microsoft’s chagrin) saying that it neglected to detect the presence of other signals, Google and the other tech companies formed the White Spaces Coalition in order to press their cause together.

Google’s membership in the WIA also follows the company’s formation of the Open Handset Alliance, a network of 30 tech and mobile companies looking to develop interoperability between mobile devices on wireless networks.

In addition to promoting the benefits of white space use, the WIA will work with government officials to bring white space use to reality. Google’s Washington Telecom and Media Council Richard Whitt says the company is throwing its support behind two bills introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to open up white spaces for broadband development. Whitt says Google is also working with FCC engineers.

The major foes against all this openness traditionally have been the telecommunications industry giants like AT&T and Verizon (though they’ve been, at least superficially, suddenly on board), because opening up new avenues for broadband delivery opens up competition as well.        

But in the case of white space, the major opponent has been the National Association of Broadcasters, who fear use of the buffer zones will interfere with broadcast television signals.

Churches, too, have expressed concern that use of white space devices would interfere with wireless microphones, which operate in the white space frequencies also.

The WIA argues that such concerns are "myths," and offer five pages of myth-busters at their website. 

The idea sounds farfetched, even wacky.  Yet with such a powerful coalition behind it (including other members not mentioned here), and a reputable source (The Washington Post’s Charles Babington) reporting on said coalition, we can be sure that this isn’t a joke or a hoax.

Then again, it’s not a sure thing.  “The coalition . . . wants regulators to allow idle TV channels, known as white space, to be used to beam the Internet into homes and offices,” reported Babington.  “But the Federal Communications Commission first must be convinced that such traffic would not bleed outside its designated channels and interfere with existing broadcasts.”

Government testing begins today on Microsoft’s implementation of the technology.  As to how it will fare, some feel that “the available white-space spectrum might be too limited to make much of an impact,” while others believe that the technology may “make the most sense” only in rural settings.

Don’t tell the coalition members these things, though – they have the utmost confidence in their project.  Some potential competitors seem worried that it will work, as well.  J.H. Snyder, the New America Foundation’s research director, told MarketWatch, “The telephone companies are terrified they’ll lose 40% of their wireless minutes, because you’ll be able to connect from work or home and bypass their wireless networks.”

That doesn’t sound too bad to me.  Go, Google, Microsoft, Dell, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard, go.

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After all, why shouldn’t you maximize the site design by including as much information as possible?

There seems to be an underlying fear that if there is white space’ the website will look incomplete. The term white space is a common term in publishing. For instance when a newspaper is developing an advertisement they will seek to allow for some areas of the advertisement to be free from text or graphics. Most publishers have learned that white space provides a sophisticated look while drawing attention to a very specific selling point.

The best way to describe it is to use music as an example. There are times when musicians will use a very roots-oriented approach to their music. They may sing with only a guitar. This approach of stripping away everything else helps the listener experience a more intimate encounter with the music. Sometimes adding more actually reduces the overall effectiveness of the music or, in the case of web design, the message.

If your online visitor has to take a significant amount of time to locate the important information they hoped to find on a web page they will likely lose interest rapidly.

Cable television contains reality television shows that attempt to help individuals sell their property. In most cases the very first thing the experts note is the clutter that may be distracting guests from visualizing the possibilities of the property. The experts will generally paint rooms a neutral color and most of the furnishings are removed from the home. The episodes generally end with the homeowners with a contract and very impressive reviews from those attending an open house.

Many web designers are reverting to a more minimalist approach to their webpage design. The use of links is a key strategy while removing unwanted clutter.

The use of great photos and a significant amount of organized white space allow visitors to concentrate on the reason they came to the webpage in the first place.

Another reason white space may be an important element in site design is to allow for the inclusion of advertising. If you fill every available space you eliminate advertisement from being a consideration on your webpage. In effect you may be driving away customers and advertisers at the same time.

For some, the thought of intentionally carving out white space in a web design requires a new way of thinking. I would encourage you to take some time and visit some of the most successful websites and see how much white space exists. What can you eliminate from your site design that gives it room to breathe?

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Scott Lindsay is a web developer and
entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many
other web projects. Get your own website online in just 5
minutes with http://HighPowerSites.com at:
http://www.highpowersites.com