The battle for the use of white spaces, the unused portions of the television broadcast spectrum, is heating up.

Google co-founder Larry Page attended a Capitol Hill hearing today and called upon the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to "free" the white spaces spectrum so it can be used as an affordable, nationwide, high-speed broadband connectivity network. Page's message: Five years of testing and discussion on the issue is enough.

Page's personal appearance brings star power to the dispute that pits companies such as Google, Microsoft and Motorola against wireless audio equipment manufacturers and live events producers. The latter oppose the move to open up the spectrum, on the grounds that doing so would cause interference with equipment such as wireless microphones.

As analog television transmission is set to go digital by Feb. 2009, large portions of the TV spectrum are expected to be remain unused. "White spaces," as these unused portions are known, currently appear as static between TV channels.

Companies such as Google that are part of the Wireless Innovation Alliance are asking for the white spaces to be unlicensed and open to all. The white spaces could then be used to deliver inexpensive broadband connectivity to rural areas at a tenth of the cost of today's municipal WiFi projects, they say.

The unused portions of the TV spectrum are attractive because signals can travel greater distances at lower power and are less susceptible to obstructions than the frequency bands used for current wireless technologies, like WiFi. Availability of the broadband service could allow for low-cost devices, both licensed and unlicensed, to access this network.

But that's where the hitch lies. Unlicensed personal devices searching for wireless connectivity on the spectrum could potentially interfere with high-end wireless audio gear that uses that band, say wireless equipment manufacturers. TV broadcasters are also resisting the move to open up the white spaces, which they regard as an important buffer zone, or "guard band," between channels.

Page didn't hesitate from taking on his opponents at Capitol Hill. The issue of opening up white spaces is being tainted by "politics," he said, as some companies try to manipulate the FCC testing of field devices. Some prototype devices have recently failed the FCC's tests to see whether the devices could sense the presence of wireless microphone signals.

With the FCC likely to release its report on the field-testing process shortly, Page called on the Commission to issue a final order regarding the vacant spectrum by Election Day in early November, says a Google spokesperson.

Google has been lobbying hard to get regulators on its side in this issue. Last month the company launched a "Free the Airwaves" campaign with a website and a petition lobbying the FCC to open up the spectrum.

So far about 16,000 people have signed the petition, says Google. That's not a very impressive number but Google hopes it has enough influential members in its alliance to tip the scales.

Also speaking on Capitol Hill were Marc Berejka, senior director for technology policy and strategy at Microsoft; Gary Grube, senior fellow at Motorola; and Neeraj Srivastava, director of technology policy, office of the chief technology officer at Dell.

Page's fervent plea, though, is likely to have little impact. It is unlikely the FCC will make a decision that could change the status quo before the elections. On this issue, the usually fast-moving Google will have to get used to the FCC's more leisurely pace.

(Photo: heathzib/Flickr)

Also see:

Google Wireless Plan Angers Audio-Equipment Makers

Google Sets Sight on WhiteSpaces Spectrum

FCC To Test WhiteSpace Devices