Machinist - You know how when you turn on a regular broadcast TV and sometimes (usually on the higher channels) all you get is snow, or just white noise? Nearly everywhere in the country has at least some of that. It's what's known in the telecom world as "white space." Essentially, it's unused spectrum. Instead of having it go to waste, as it does now, that spectrum could be used -- for a new type of Internet access (think WiFi, but better).
The Federal Communications Commission recently completed a years-long study examining whether using white spaces for something else would in fact disrupt television broadcasts or wireless microphone signals. There were months of FCC field testing -- your tax dollars at work! The conclusion? That group of commishes appears ready to approve the opening up of white space when they meet for a vote on Nov. 4. Even FCC chairman Kevin Martin said he supports opening up white spaces.
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