Making room for wireless: the FCC proposes a solution to crowded airwaves.

THE WIRELESS AIRWAVES are crowded, so the FCC is hoping it's found a way to make room for wireless growth: Let unlicensed wireless devices use the buffer space between broadcast television frequencies.

The spectrum the FCC wants to free up--below 900MHz--is a good fit because these signals can travel farther and better penetrate walls, buildings, and other obstructions. This could offer a way to help bring high-speed Internet services to rural communities without expensive cables. The FCC cites Wi-Fi as an example of the kind of low-power, unlicensed devices that could take advantage of the freed-up frequency. However, because the current versions of Wi-Fi operate only at 2.4GHz (802.11b and 802.11g) and 5GHz (802.11a), the FCC's proposal would require perhaps several new Wi-Fi specifications.

This technology has the potential to provide greater service to the American public," says FCC chairman Michael Powell. "It promises to dramatically increase the availability and quality of wireless Internet connections--the equivalent of doubling the number of lanes on a congested highway."

To make sure signals don't interfere with TV broadcast signals, the FCC is proposing a requirement for the unlicensed devices to use "smart radio" features to identify unused TV channels.