Wireless Future Program
 

Google Unwired

Larry Page on Expanding Broadband Access and Allocating Spectrum More Efficiently

In an interview-style discussion with New America's Michael Calabrese, Page described Google's strategy for expanding access to the Internet and allocating spectrum more efficiently -- and explained why opening the vacant TV channels for unlicensed access after next February's DTV transition is key to promoting broadband deployment and tech sector innovation.

Selected highlights from the conversation, facilitated by Wireless Future Program Director Michael Calabrese, can be viewed at left. To learn more about this event or watch the full-length video, please click here.

About Us

The American people collectively own the most valuable resource of the emerging information economy: the airwaves, also known as the radio frequency spectrum. Yet our nation’s antiquated spectrum policies create an artificial scarcity that reduces innovation and competition, inhibits the rapid deployment of universal wireless broadband services, sacrifices billions of dollars of revenue, constrains citizen access to the airwaves and erodes the public interest obligations of broadcasters and other licensees. The purpose of the Wireless Future Program is to promote fair and efficient use of the airwaves in order to unlock the full potential of the emerging wireless era for all Americans.

A more-detailed program description is available here.

Program Staff

FCC Comments

Click here for a list of all of our FCC filings.

The Wireless Future Program, along with allies in the public interest and high-tech communities, frequently submits comments in Federal Communications Commission proceedings of relevance to spectrum policy reform. The Program is currently monitoring and commenting on the following dockets:

  • Docket 04-186 - Unlicensed Operation in the TV Broadcast Bands
  • Docket 05-312 - Broadcast Industry Push to Implement a Digital TV Distributed Transmission System
  • Docket 05-345 - Nuclear Energy Industry Petition to Use the TV Bands
  • Docket 06-49 - Expansion of Licensing in 900 MHz Shared Unlicensed Band (used for community wireless networks)
  • Docket 06-150 - Service Rules for the 698-746, 747-762, and 777-792 MHz Bands
  • Docket RM -11361 - Skype Communications S.A.R.L. Petition to Confirm a Consumer’s Right to Use Internet Communications Software and Attach Devices to Wireless Networks
  • Docket 99-325 - In the Matter of Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems AND Their Impact on Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Services

IRC Chat

Manual Configuration: You can use SSL Encrypted Web Chat here. This will bring you to same page using HTTPS / secure SSL. You can connect directly to the IRC server with the address irc.wirelesssummit.org using port 6667 or the SSL port of 8067 (the latter is recommended). If you are using BitchX, Irssi, mIRC, or X-Chat just type /server irc.wirelesssummit.org 6667 or /server irc.wirelesssummit.org 8067

Web-based chat: Chat commands begin with / and should be familiar to anyone who has used IRC before. Channels (chat rooms) and private messages are organized in tabs at the top status bar. Once you click login, please be patient -- it will take a few seconds to load the web widget.

Below are a few useful commands and a quick summary of their use:
    /join Joins the specified channel. eg: /join #summit
    /list Lists all the channels on the network (this outputs a lot of information).
    /quit Quits IRC totally (same as clicking X in Status window).
    /whois Gives some information about a user. eg: /whois blah
    /help Displays more usage/help information.

    Click here for more info on IRC.
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New & Noteworthy

TV White Spaces:

Spectrum Coalition Proposals for 700 MHz Auction & Service Rules:

Wireless Carterfone and Network Neutrality: