FCC hopes to vote on white-space on Nov. 4

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is seeking an Election Day vote by the commission on white-space, bringing to a head a long-running debate over whether white-space should be used for unlicensed wireless applications.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, said he was going to circulate a report to his fellow commissioners prepared by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology that lays out what standards devices looking to operate in the white-spaces must meet to avoid interference with broadcasters. Companies like Google, Microsoft and HP have argued for unlicensed use of the white-space--the unused slivers of spectrum in the 700 MHz band between spectrum used by broadcast TV stations. Broadcasters have opposed the idea, saying it will create too much interference. 

Martin said he hopes to vote on the idea at the FCC's Nov. 4 meeting.

"I'm hoping to take advantage of utilizing these airwaves for broadband services to allow for unlicensed technologies and new innovations in that space," he said. "This spectrum is very conducive to broadband service...the white spaces can be used as long as it does not interfere with broadcasters."

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