Five senators urged the FCC to approve the unlicensed use of the so-called “white spaces” spectrum that exists in between frequencies used for television broadcasts. In a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, the senators said opening up the white spaces would have significant benefits for consumers, and that it should be opened up to unlicensed use for both mobile and fixed services, says eWeek. TV broadcasters vehemently oppose opening up the white spaces, saying they can’t be used without interfering with TV signals. FCC tests of a prototype white-space device from Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) earlier this year weren’t successful, but Google, (NSDQ: GOOG) Microsoft and Philips are going ahead with their own trials of devices, which they contend work without interference.

• Google’s Doing Its Own Testing On White Spaces
• MSFT and Phillips Want More White Space Testing; Say Their Own Testing Is Succesful
• More White Noise: A Setback For The White Spaces Spectrum Lobby From Google, Others
• White Spaces Spectrum Bid by Microsoft, Google And Others Criticized For Interference