The Federal Register (PDF) today revealed that the FCC’s white space wireless rules would take effect on January 5. This rulling will open the door to technology that has been nicknamed “Super Wi-Fi” due to the combination of its unlicensed, free-to-use nature with its support for low frequencies and much longer ranges than typical Wi-Fi. Now companies to start using the frequencies between TV channels and will also require the promised white space database to tell companies and users which airwaves are free. One company is expected to manage the database, but the FCC’s Hugh Van Tuyl said that the agency was still determining who would be responsible and wasn’t tied to the January 5 date.
Microsoft, Google and other firms have championed white space. If used to its potential, the technology could see people both accessing personal wireless routers from much greater distances but also Internet providers that could connect neighborhoods to a single, fast Internet line without having to wire each home.
Wonder what demos will come due to this ruling at CES?
