White space wait

We've been waiting out the FCC today, which finally voted yes to allow service providers to use the "white spaces" between already-used broadcast spectrum to deliver wireless data services.

It's fitting there was a delay. White space data services have had a long journey to get to this point — and are likely to travel a long path before they get deployed, if ever.

The concept of white space data is an idea backed by the spectrum "have nots" — PC and Web companies such as Dell, Google and Microsoft, among the larger names — and opposed by at least one notable section of spectrum "haves": over-the-air TV broadcasters. Their contention that white space data services would disrupt broadcast TV signals has led to all sorts of device testing and spectrum contention trials, which have seemingly been resolved in favor of the new entrants.

So where do traditional service providers fit into all this? They're mostly on the sidelines. As we learned in the 700 MHz hubbub, it's one thing to pine for open spectrum — as Google did then — it's another thing to devote the time, energy, money and engineering resources to actually make something of it.

With today's wireless operators already seeing strong success with ubiquitous, easy-to-use 3G — and soon 4G services — driven in part by partnerships with device- and software-makers (including Google, with its G1 Android device), it's hard to imagine a world in which white space data services emerge from ground zero today to become a major, competitive offering. The market moves too quickly, and the politics (not to mention the technology and market challenges) around white spaces aren't about to go away, even though the FCC rubberstamped them today.

Maybe you missed it, but recently a handful of performers wrote a letter to the FCC fighting against white space data services, worried that they would interfere with wireless microphones — and thus their acts. Check out this motley crew of signees: Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, the Dixie Chicks, Clay Aiken and Guns N' Roses. You don't see such assembled power and political influence like that every day.

Check back to TelephonyOnline.com for developments in the wake of the white spaces ruling.

E-mail me at rkarpinski@telephonyonline.com