Our friends at the D.C. firm Fletcher Heald & Hildreth alerted us to recent FCC action that would ultimately permit use of so-called ‘white space’ (unused radio spectrum) in the television bands for internet access devices — after the U.S. switchover concludes in Feb 2009.

A six-partner coalition of heavyweights in the tech industry (Microsoft, Google, Dell, HP, Intel and Philips) has also apparently given a wireless device for the FCC to test.  Results are expected by July.

Here is a pdf document containing a photo of the device and the user’s manual:

Microsoft TV White Spaces Development Platform Version 1

They need a catchier name — even at this early stage …  

Of course one would expect Ofcom to closely monitor this situation given that internet access in the U.K. is really only competitive outside the BT / Virgin duopoly at the retail level.  Wireless — and unlicensed wireless in particular — represents a significant low-cost opportunity to bypass the last-mile facilities of those incumbents.