"As more people access information via mobile and other intelligent devices, additional strain is being put on existing wireless networks," said Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer. "Microsoft appreciates the hard work by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and the other FCC Commissioners and Congress leading up to this vote. Their action will deliver greater broadband connectivity to consumers, and promote growth and investment in a new generation of wireless broadband technologies."

Google’s Richard Whitt said, "Today’s order finally sets the stage for the next generation of wireless technologies to emerge, and is an important victory for Internet users across the country."

According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon will introduce tiered data pricing over the next four to six months. It might go about it in a different way than AT&T, however. The details have not been ironed out. 

Facebook has been experiencing some technical difficulties. A lot of users have repeatedly had trouble accessing the site. The company gave the following statement (via TechCrunch):

We’re currently experiencing some site issues causing Facebook to be slow or unavailable for some users.  We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. Here’s the announcement on that.

 "We are pleased to be part of an exciting new technology that can dramatically improve medical and healthcare services to the people of the Logan, Ohio community," said LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, President and CEO of the Hocking Valley Community Hospital.

Google Business Operations Project Manager Larry Alder said, "This is an exciting new deployment that demonstrates the potential of the TV white spaces to improve broadband and spark new applications in healthcare."

The system operates under the control of Spectrum Bridge’s TV White Spaces Database, which assigns non-interfering frequencies to white spaces devices. This is to ensure that the TV white spaces network does not cause interference with licensed television broadcasts and other protected TV band users.

The deployment is operating on an experimental white spaces license granted by the FCC. Next Thursday, the FCC will vote on final technical rules governing white spaces. "We’re excited that the final rules are up for a vote, and can’t wait to see how entrepreneurs and innovators nationwide will use unlicensed white spaces to introduce cool new products and services," says Alder.

Google released some helpful updates for Google Maps for Android today. These include Walking Navigation, Street View Smart Navigation, and a new search bar. 

On Google’s Public Policy Blog, Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel, writes:

When the FCC voted to open the white spaces to unlicensed use in November 2008, it required that such a database be deployed before consumer electronics companies could start selling PCs, smartphones, e-book readers or other devices that used this spectrum. Before sending or receiving data, these devices will be required to connect to the database to determine what frequencies can and can’t be used in a particular location. Licensed television and wireless microphone signals will be fully protected from harmful interference.

Why are we offering to do this? We continue to be big believers in the potential for this spectrum to revolutionize wireless broadband, and we think it’s important for us to step forward and offer our assistance to make that vision a reality. Since launching the White Spaces Database Group last February, we’ve been working with other stakeholders to exchange ideas and perspectives on how to best operate a working database, and we believe we’re in a strong position to build and successfully manage one.

Google proposes to build a database to be publicly accessible and searchable, so anyone could access and review the data. The proposal has been provided in full:

Google says it anticipates that the FCC will accept comments on various database proposals, and expects the Commission to make a final destination sometime in the spring.
 

Related Articles:

> White Spaces Officially Cleared For Wireless Broadband

> Google Sees White Spaces Filling With Internet

> Google, Verizon Weigh In On White Space Test

This is huge news for tech companies and particularly Google, who has been backing this concept. A post from Google Co-founder Larry Page on the Google Public Policy Blog says:

The FCC has been looking at this issue carefully for the last six years. Google has worked hard on this matter with other tech companies and public interest groups because we think that this spectrum will help put better and faster Internet connections in the hands of the public. We also look forward to working with the FCC to finalize the method used to compute power levels of empty channels adjacent to TV channels (we have a number of public filings before the commission in this area and it is a vital issue in urban areas).

I’ve always thought that there are a lot of really incredible things that engineers and entrepreneurs can do with this spectrum. We will soon have "Wi-Fi on steroids," since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today’s Wi-Fi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost. And it is wonderful that the FCC has adopted the same successful unlicensed model used for Wi-Fi, which has resulted in a projected 1 billion Wi-Fi chips being produced this year. Now that the FCC has set the rules, I’m sure that we’ll see similar growth in products to take advantage of this spectrum.

News of the FCC’s support of this has been around for a while now, but having it formally approved should allow everyone involved to breathe a sigh of relief. The concept has been backed by both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Such broadband depends on the ability of technology to deliver it within the unused spaces, but without interfering with other devices on the spectrum. Televisions and wireless microphones use the space; a white space Internet service has to leave them alone or risk FCC rejection.

Google claimed the future of this method of bringing high-speed Internet services to potential customers stepped closer to reality. The company’s Public Policy blog said they remain confident the latest testing will find suitable protection for TV and wireless mics in these spectrum-sensing devices.

To determine how well spectrum sensing technology works, the FCC will test it at venues for sporting and entertainment events. Google said they already have such venues covered against white space interference.

In particular, standalone use of a geolocation database with a look-up function would offer complete protection to digital TV and wireless microphone signals at major venues.

Importantly, under our approach no WSD would transmit, even if it failed to detect any signals at all, without first receiving affirmative permission from a geolocation database look-up. With or without spectrum sensing, it’s abundantly clear that unlicensed devices can coexist successfully with licensed services, with no reasonable fear of harmful interference.

A working, effective implementation of white spaces Internet delivery promises the prospect of an affordable broadband competitor to face off against the current choice-limiting duopoly of telecom and cable Net services. Those with an interest in the broadest possible availability of Internet connectivity should root for successful testing.

Technically, the white spaces are the unused portions of spectrum between broadcast channels, used as a buffer to prevent interfering signals. Google, Microsoft, and some other major companies want to use them for WiFi signals. Verizon et alia (the telecommunications industry), broadcasters, and, interestingly, churches are not in favor opening up the white spaces.

The opposition claims use of the white spaces will interfere with network signals despite claims new technology will prevent it. Users of wireless microphones, like those used in church services, also fear interference despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

In previous FCC tests, the technology in question failed, but testers also failed to test a backup unit. At the time, Microsoft protested that testers didn’t also test the backup provided. Since then, though, both Motorola and Philips have successfully demonstrated how the devices work for the FCC.

From the tone of today’s Google Public Policy blog post, it sounds like Google isn’t as confident in the upcoming tests, which are slated for tomorrow at Fed Ex Stadium during a Redskins Buffalo football game. Google’s Washington Telecom and Media Counsel Richard Whitt reminded readers about a Google-developed "enhanced protection plan" introduced in March the company guarantees will protect against interference.

"Regardless of how these tests validate certain technical parameters of spectrum sensing," wrote Whitt, "those venues would be fully protected anyway under Google’s March proposal. In particular, standalone use of a geolocation database with a look-up function would offer complete protection to digital TV and wireless microphone signals at major venues."

Google’s plan recommended the use of geolocation databases, beacons, and/or safe harbors in conjunction.

Verizon, as usual, is on the other side of this, noting that white space technology hasn’t past all tests yet, and therefore they still have concern that their own wireless signals will be in jeopardy. Even if not, Verizon’s not so sure it wants WiFi sent over unlicensed spectrum, as proponents have suggested. They’d rather keep it out of public hands and use it for storage.

But of course the bigger reason is that licensed spectrum makes it harder for competition to enter the marketplace. Not that any voice in this is necessarily altruistic and proffered in the best interest of the public; broadcasters are protecting their niche, Google gains tremendously by greater Internet accessibility, and technology manufacturers stand to make tidy sums by making the devices. It just so happens, once again, Google’s interests run parallel to the public’s, while others’ do not.  

Did you think the spectrum auction, with its winning bid of $4.7 billion from Verizon, truly ended? Google is still fighting that battle, with a request to the FCC that Verizon should be blocked from completing the deal, unless they apply open access rules from that auction to their current customers.

“Verizon is gaming the rules in an effort to keep their cash cow (crippled, walled garden phones with no VoIP, Verizon content, highly restricted TOS, high priced SMS) alive and well,” said Broadband Reports of Google’s position on Verizon. In short, good luck with that open access thing, consumers.

“Google all but accuses Verizon of planning to ignore the portion of the C Block open access requirements that say that C Block licensees ‘may not disable features on handsets it provides to customers,’ Cynthia Brumfield said at IP Democracy.

“Google says that Verizon has never strayed from its initial position that open access requirements do not apply to handsets that it gives its own customers,” said Brumfield. Google opined further on the process in their 11-page request of the FCC:

Notwithstanding the clarity of the rule, Verizon has taken the public position that it may exclude its handsets from the open access condition. Verizon believes it may force customers who want to access the open platform using a device not purchased from Verizon to go through “Door No. 1,” while allowing customers who obtain their device from Verizon access through “Door No. 2.”

As Google previously made clear, Verizon

]]> http://www.webpronews.com/google-aims-block-at-verizon-wireless-bid-2008-05/feed 1 http://www.webpronews.com/grandcentral-figures-in-googles-wi-fi-plans-2008-03 http://www.webpronews.com/grandcentral-figures-in-googles-wi-fi-plans-2008-03#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:31:52 +0000 WebProNews Staff http://www.webpronews.com/?p=44678 With Google’s purchase of GrandCentral Communications in July 2007, the company set up a way to pull people away from their relationships with wireless phone carriers.

When the FCC forced wireless operators to allow for the portability of cellphone numbers from one carrier to another, the industry obeyed the directive with plenty of reluctance. A natural desire to not have to lose a phone number already known to lots of people kept subscribers from ditching carriers for competitors with better deals.

If the wireless plans by Google and other white space usage backers in the Wireless Innovation Alliance hope to bring more people along to their service, they will have to offer portability, or at least a reasonable facsimile of it.

Enter GrandCentral. Though the use of the free service, people may establish a phone number that routes to their existing phones. Management features in GrandCentral allow users to manage their caller relationships, whether it’s with personalized voicemail greetings for some callers, or blocking undesirable ones.

We expect to see more of a push for GrandCentral adoption up to and through February 2009, when television leaves the 700MHz spectrum and the white spaces open up for Google and its wireless partners.

If they can get more people to set up a GrandCentral number now, and route it to their existing numbers, it will be trivial to add a new destination number from a Google-backed, Android-powered device to Grand Central later.

Depending on how well the white spaces network operates, people may be tempted to ditch existing wireless telecom accounts for what should be a much lower cost service from Google and company. If that happens, Verizon may have promised to pay $4.74 billion for the proverbial pig in a poke.

]]> http://www.webpronews.com/grandcentral-figures-in-googles-wi-fi-plans-2008-03/feed 2 http://www.webpronews.com/google-wireless-firms-snipe-over-white-spaces-2008-01 http://www.webpronews.com/google-wireless-firms-snipe-over-white-spaces-2008-01#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:02:56 +0000 WebProNews Staff http://www.webpronews.com/?p=43635 T-Mobile and Sprint don’t want companies like Google, Microsoft, and other using the “white spaces” of unused spectrum for wireless service.

Complaints to the Federal Communications Commission from Sprint and T-Mobile should be ignored, in the minds of Google and other tech companies. The tech firms want to offer services to people using unlicensed devices in those unused white spaces.

CNNMoney said Google sent a letter to the FCC, advising the agency that Sprint and T-Mobile overstated the interference aspects of white space connections.

Google also said the two telecoms submitted their complaint “quite late in the day.” The telecoms want to use that white space for data transfers, a usage Google dismissed as inefficient.

On their Public Policy blog, Google disclosed its interest in those white spaces of spectrum in August 2007. Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel, noted how Google and other tech companies had formed a White Spaces Coalition to explore the feasibility of that idea.

“The FCC’s engineering analysis confirms what we have stated all along: it is technologically feasible to provide Internet access through this segment of spectrum without interfering with either digital television signals or wireless microphones,” said Whitt.

These white spaces would allow for the operation of low power connections, with WiFi rather than real broadband. Perhaps that could lead to better implementations of mesh networking in building-dense urban areas to allow for the connections the tech firms propose.

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