FCC Likely to Open Airwaves to Wireless

When the Federal Communications Commission first approved the use of unlicensed bands of the airwaves decades ago, it began a revolution in consumer electronics -- first in television remote controls and garage door openers, then in baby monitors and cordless phones, and most recently in wireless computer networks. This month, the FCC is likely to approve what could be an even bigger expansion of the unlicensed airwaves, opening the door to supercharged Wi-Fi networks that will do away with the need to find a wireless hot spot and will provide the scaffolding for new applications that are not yet imagined.

"We know what the first kind of deployments will be," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, citing wireless broadband networks that can cover entire university or corporate campuses, for example -- what is referred to in the industry as "Wi-Fi on steroids." The stronger, faster networks will extend broadband signals to bypassed rural areas and allow for smart electric grids, remote health monitoring and, for consumers, wireless Internet without those annoying dead zones. "But this will also be a platform for innovators and entrepreneurs," Chairman Genachowski said. "There is every chance of this leading to the development of one or more billion-dollar industries."