Much of the public airwaves will be reconfigured in February when TV broadcasters are required to switch their transmissions to digital from their current analog signals.
The blank parts of the newly divided spectrum, known as "white spaces," could allow a next generation of wi-fi with increased speed, bandwidth and range.
Several organizations and companies have protested that the FCC has not done enough to assure that the white space transmissions will not interfere with existing devices. Specifically, users of wireless microphones such as theaters and sporting arenas claim that their equipment will be adversely affected.
The FCC stated on its web site that "wireless microphones will be protected in a variety of ways."
The commission also has required that devices include the ability to listen to the airwaves to sense wireless microphones as an additional measure of protection for these devices.
Technology companies soundly applauded the availability of the additional broadcast space. Google's co-founder, Larry Page wrote on his blog that he believes "the much longer range of these spectrum signals, wireless broadband access utilizing the TV white spaces could be brought to more consumers using fewer base stations — in effect, 'wi-fi on steroids.'"