Friday, January 25, 2013

Google Seeks FCC Approval for 'Experimental Radio Network'

Google is requesting FCC permission to build an "experimental radio network" - but most informed observers say it isn't as big a deal as some might think. Digital Trends notes, "While this may seem like Google’s jump into the wireless space with the likes of AT&T and Verizon, don’t get your hopes up just yet." Google has filed an FCC Form 442 "application for new or modified radio station under part 5 of FCC rules - experimental radio service (other than broadcast)." The application specifically requests permission to create an "experimental radio network" in a two-mile radius surrounding its Mountain View, California, headquarters which would operate somewhere in the 2524MHz and 2625MHz spectrum. Digital Trends writes that it would be "not only experimental in nature, but far from consumer-oriented. The spectrum being tested is inaccessible by almost all current consumer electronics, including iPhones and Android devices, meaning it will be years before you see gadgets use this." However, that report tells us that "what's special about this band of spectrum is that it's very effective with high-density locations, which makes it very efficient for rolling out wireless access in big cities, and potentially even a successor to current wireless standards." Digital Trends notes that "Google actually doesn’t own the spectrum - Clearwire does, so the future of the technology is far from being in Google's hands."




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