Recently, we wrote an update on the “white space” spectrum of the wireless band in the United States and what that means for the entertainment industry.  You can read our posting about the “white space” here.

Today we received an email for a reader in the industry about the status of the “white space”.  Seems like the FCC has opened up that spectrum to tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, granting them free, unlicensed wireless devices access to chucks of the unused airwaves on the spectrum.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday gave Google, Microsoft and a number of other tech companies what they wanted by granting free, unlicensed wireless devices access to chunks of unused airwaves on the broadcast spectrum known as “white spaces” (so-named because they provide a buffer between broadcast channels). Critics of the move fear that a flood of wireless devices, unregulated by the FCC, will interfere with TV programming.

The FCC, which voted unanimously 5-0 to open up white space access, said the move will allow “new and innovative” types of wireless devices—next-generation cell phones and computers, for example—to take advantage of faster broadband connections, the key to better managing streaming video and other large data files.

via: email & sciam.com

Read more about the rulings and what this means on www.sciam.com.  And thanks to one of our readers, TN for bringing this to our attention!