Google is currently petitioning the FCC to be the administrator of the white spaces database. The database manages the access of the white spaces devices (WSD) to the wireless broadband. The FCC requires the use of a database. This would ensure that the WSD’s do not cause interference with nearby frequencies used by broadcast TV. In order to make certain that the white spaces data base is standardized – Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Google formed the White Spaces Database Group. This is a special interest group that will work on the technical specifications for the database.

According to our good friends at Wikipedia

White spaces refer to frequencies allocated to a broadcasting service but not used locally. In the United States, it has gained prominence after the FCC ruled that unlicensed devices that can guarantee that they will not interfere with assigned broadcasts can use the empty white spaces in frequency spectrum.

Essentially, white spaces are the frequencies that were abandoned when the FCC mandated the termination of analog TV, back on June 12, 2009. Since February 2009, the IEEE 802.22[1][2] and the White Spaces Coalition have been campaigning for the use of the white spaces. The White Spaces Coalition are eight companies – Google, Dell, Earthlink, Microsoft, Intel, Philips, Samsung and HP. The Coalition plans to use the white spaces to provide wireless broadband Internet access. The Coalition will provide the wireless broadband service in rural areas where major fiber deployment is cost prohibitive. The White Spaces Coalition is reported as stating that they expect to see wireless speeds of 80 Mbps and better.

In an obvious move, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) have filed a lawsuit to overturn the FCC’s decision to use the white spaces for wireless broadband access. The NAB argues that the use of white spaces would have an adverse affect on frequencies used by broadcast TV. From what we can gather the lawsuit is sitting at a United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.