CTIA is now weighing in on the “white spaces” debate on whether unused TV airwaves should become available to build a wireless broadband network. Companies are also arguing over whether the spectrum should be licensed, or if it should be unlicensed, like Wi-Fi. TV broadcasters are against any usage, saying it will cause interference if it is used by others.

CTIA joins the camp of Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel and T-Mobile, which want the spectrum to be licensed, according to FierceWireless. “The way we look at it is there is a model that works, and continues to work,” said Paul Garnett, CTIA’s assistant vp for regulatory affairs. “There is some potential there to use [white spaces] in a licensed way to allow incumbents or new entrants to provide new broadband access.”

The two operators want the spectrum available for backhaul, meanwhile Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and other members of the White Space Coalition, want the spectrum to be unlicensed and used for wireless broadband. Last month, Google wrote a letter to the FCC urging it to hurry up and open up the white spaces. The FCC is currently testing devices to make sure they don’t interfere with TV signals. So far, results have been mixed. But if the FCC approves the devices this year, white spaces wireless devices could be available as soon as late 2009. The White Space Coalition also includes Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT), Dell, Philips and others. 

• Now That Spectrum Auction Is Over, Attention Turns To White Spaces