Wouldn’t it be nice to have cheap, high-speed wifi blanketing
the entire United States? You’d be able to access the internet from
anywhere, which would allow you to stream entertainment during long
road trips, keep up-to-date on mass transit arrivals and
departures, fall back on google maps when you become lost, or just
not be tethered to an ethernet cord when you really just want to
watch your kids play in the backyard while doing a bit of
home-work. 
Sound appealing? Google thinks so too. And they’ve proposed yet
another solution to make this high-speed internet dream a
reality.
Here’s the plan: The February 2009 conversion of all U.S.
televisions from analog to digital will free-up an extraordinary
amount of
white space (basically, gaps of bandwidth in the previously
saturated television spectrum), that could be used to project
wireless internet signals throughout every home in America
relatively risk-free.
Google’s
ex parte filing with the FCC
states that “[t]he unique qualities of the TV white space – unused
spectrum, large amounts of bandwidth, and excellent propagation
characteristics – offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide
ubiquitous wireless broadband access to all Americans. In
particular, this spectrum can provide robust infrastructure to
serve the needs of underdeployed rural areas, as well as first
responders and others in the public safety community. Moreover, use
of this spectrum will enable much-needed competition to the
incumbent broadband service providers.”
Sound like a win-win for everyone. So what’s the problem? TV
broadcasters, wireless phone manufacturers, and even the
NFL are worried that utilizing this white
space will interfere with their programming, service or wireless
devices. Google argues that this would not be a problem due to
low-cost “spectrum sensing” which would prevent signals from being
crossed.
(cont.)
Of course, the biggest obstacle remains the telecom industry,
composed of heavy-weights like Verizon, who are naturally battling
to maintain lucrative internet and broadband market-share: their
new life-blood. They will do what it takes to slow down the spread
of web access.
After repeatedly being beaten-down by Verizon while trying to
establish nation-wide and municipal wi-max, you’d think Google
would throw in the towel. But instead, they’re upping the ante,
offering to contribute significant resources, including the free
technical support necessary for these plans to come to
fruition.
Of course, Google is not doing this solely out of the kindness
in their corporate heart. The more people online, the more new
gmail accounts, google ad clicks, google searches performed, etc.
But at least their goal is more honorable than that of Verizon, a
company that evidently cares more about keeping up its annual
income than allowing technological and the resulting social
progress.
Affordable or free national wifi would not only be a nice
convenience to the consumer, imagine the difference it would make
in the lives of underpriveleged families who can barely afford
basic dial-up? Imagine the resources those children are missing out
on – resources that range from research and learning tools to
scholarship and college applications. The benefits are truly
endless.
I find it reprehensible and mind-numbing that our nation
continues to resist widespread connectivity. Let’s hope that this
initiative or some other comprehensive national solution can
accomplish this in the near future, so that we don’t get caught
standing still as the progressive countries in the world go zipping
on by.
(via
ArsTechnica)
Comment Thread ()
