Google: Free the White Spaces!

Though the company is still a relative newcomer to the political lobbying game, Google showed Monday it knows how to get everyone’s attention with its creation of a public-advocacy organization aimed at freeing up the so-called “white spaces” of empty wireless spectrum between TV channels. Though we’re still years away from anyone being able to use new gizmos to connect via white-space channels, the conversation about finding new spectrum for communications in the U.S. seems to be a good one to have.

Why is this a big deal? If you remember the $19.6 billion the FCC raised in the recent 700 MHz auctions, you know that wireless spectrum is a precious and scarce commodity. If the white spaces bandwidth gets released into the unlicensed realm, it could be a lot cheaper for service providers to set up new networks.

And even though Google is upfront about why it wants to help free the white spaces — “Google has a clear business interest in expanding access to the web” — some like Om and Cynthia are publicly doubtful that we’re getting the full picture of Google’s intentions. My take is that in these times of duopoly broadband services, any conversation about getting more spectrum is a good one to start having, no matter what the motivation is.

The next big thing in the white spaces arena is likely to happen next month, when the FCC releases the results of its latest round of device testing. Google, along with device builders like Motorola and chip vendor Intel are behind making white spaces open and free, while TV broadcasters and folks who build wireless microphones (who both say there will be too much interference) are in opposition. Let the lobbying begin!

Paul Kapustka, former managing editor for GigaOM, now has his own blog at Sidecut Reports, which has recently published a report on the state of the Net Neutrality debate.