From the desk of T. Blake

Understanding WRAN Wireless Regional Area Network 802.22 use of TV whitespace frequencies in P2MP point to multipoint operation

Under the premise that the airwaves are a public resource, the FCC is opening the newly created "white space," as the soon-to-be-vacated frequencies are called, for new technologies. The most promising technology is broadband Internet, which promises to bring high-speed data access to the masses at lower cost than wired services.

What is the advantage of WiFi white space? Unlike the current Wi-Fi, signals on these frequencies can travel greater distances, around the hills and through structures.

WiFi white space will also be free, which is rare these days. But free may mean that others, such as Google, Microsoft, can bring new products to the marketplace. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says consumer are the biggest winners. The white-space plan "is a significant victory for consumers," he told USA TODAY. "The abilty to have Wi-Fi like connectivity, at faster speeds and greater range" will help further deployment of broadband across the USA.

700 Megahertz band:   The available airwaves are in the 700 MHz band and would be able to travel farther and through walls, making their use potentially more cost efficient than Wi-Fi. White space is defined as unused portions of bandwidth, thus the frequencies are available for use. Technically they belong to the public, and have not been auctioned off to private enterprise. 300MHz of prime radio spectrum in the VHF and UHF will be available for TV whitespace (TVWS)

"With white spaces you need many fewer (transmitters than Wi-Fi) and the cost difference is going to be astounding, hugely different," Larry Page of Google said. "In terms of how people use the Internet, how they communicate with each other, how rural areas will be able to have connectivity, this will be a tremendously important thing."

At the present time people provide free WiFi access, and in rural areas and small towns merchants often broadcast an open signal to help others. The signal may not reach farther that 300 feet. We own a retail business on Main Street in our small town, and often see people parked in front of our store just to access the Internet, check email, and perform other functions like online banking. All of that may change with white space WiFi