On Nov 4th the FCC is going to vote on what to do with the "TV White Spaces", which is the wireless spectrum that will be freed up once the analog TV broadcasting channels are discontinued on 2009. This spectrum is extremely long range, and penetrates trees and walls easily. It's been in use by TV broadcasters for many years.
Almost every tech company out there wants to see this wireless spectrum opened up for unlicensed use, the same way that the part of the spectrum that WiFi devices use today are unlicensed so that anybody can use them. Look at what a technical revolution WiFi has brought in the short time it's been around! This new spectrum would greatly expand the range and capabilities of WiFi type services, as well as open the door to new applications we haven't even thought of yet.
The major broadcasting companies don't want to loose their control of this spectrum. They would rather keep this spectrum licensed for their own uses, probably for more digital TV channels (like we need more of those...).
Please, as a personal favor to me and everyone else in North America, and I swear I'm asking this in light of the greater good, please go to this web site and sign this electronic petition:
http://www.freetheairwaves.com/
I'm very excited about the potential new inventions and services this could provide in the future that could create new jobs and opportunities and learning in our country. Especially for people in rural areas where houses are too spread out for current WiFi applications to be practical.
I'm also concerned about the short sighted greed of the broadcasting corporations and the influence they are putting on members of the FCC to sway the vote in their favor. Numbers are our only advantage, so please sign up and be counted right away!
Thank you,
-Brian Bowker
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