U.S. Opens Vacant TV Airwaves for $4 Billion Market
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Federal regulators cleared the way for technology companies to use vacant television channels for wireless data and Internet services that may be worth more than $4 billion a year.
The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 today to adopt rules for using the airwaves, known as white spaces. Microsoft Corp., Google Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Motorola Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. are laying plans to exploit the airwaves, which exist in all U.S. cities.