Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates urged US communications regulators on Thursday to free up more vacant television airwaves to be used for wireless services such as broadband Internet access.
During an appearance before a Northern Virginia technology group, Gates said the so-called "white space" spectrum between analog broadcast channels could be used to expand access of wireless broadband service using Wi-Fi technology.
"We're hopeful that that will be made available so that Wi-Fi can explode in terms of its usage, even out into some of these less dense areas (of the United States) where distance has been a big problem for Wi-Fi," Gates said in response to a question from the audience.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of technology companies that has been lobbying the US Federal Communications Commission to allow unlicensed use of white space spectrum. The group also includes Google Inc, Dell, Intel Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co and the north American unit of Philips Electronics. However, the idea is opposed by US broadcasters and makers of wireless microphones, who fear the devices would cause interference.
"Broadband penetration could be drastically improved through a fixed, licensed service without interference to TV reception. Unfortunately, Microsoft continues to push for an unlicensed technology that simply does not work," said Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters. "TV viewers should not be inundated by the inevitable interference caused by such faulty devices," Wharton said.
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