Microsoft Still Fighting for Airwaves

By Gregory Mone Posted 08.14.2007 at 5:03 pm 4 Comments

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that a prototype Internet device Microsoft is developing could interfere with broadcast television signals. Microsoft, Google and others are trying to put together gadgets that use a band of the airwaves known as white space. In several cities, this portion of the spectrum goes unused, so the companies were hoping to capitalize on that empty air. Unfortunately for the Seattle-based empire, the FCC decided that Microsoft's device didn't reliably pick out that empty spectrum. Microsoft has challenged the ruling, arguing that a damaged component effected the result. Which is interesting and all, but why didn't they just ask the FCC this much simpler question: Who cares? Are there really people out there who still have to get up from the couch to adjust the rabbit ears? Apparently so. They must be the same folks who are wondering about this crazy Internet thing all the kids are talking about.—Gregory Mone

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4 Comments

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popsci

08/14/07 at 10:14 pm

I hardly watch TV at all, largely in part of the monopolistic nature of the companies that offer the service. Though I know people that still use, the not so trusty, rabbit ears. Their usages usually comes down to budget or accessibility rather than my personal trigger of old & terrible corporate philosophies.

I'm betting a majority of it's usage comes from areas of low or no accessibility, in which case it is unlikely they will have service on any other device, like Microsoft's and Google's.

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popsci

08/14/07 at 11:59 pm

In fact, the internet and modern technology are leading many of us away from paying ripoff prices for TV service. I cancelled my cable because it just didn't make sense to spend $30 per month and still not still only get 2 of the 5 channels I'd like to watch. Double the price to get the other three.

Shows worth watching can be downloaded through bittorrent, or purchased on itunes or DVD. And it's not just the commercial free, not-tied-to-a-schedule convenience...many of the best shows - particularly scifi (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Stargate) - air in Britain and are available on bittorrent months before making their way accross the Atlantic.

Anyway, long story short, the hour or so per week where I was actually watching shows as they aired just wasn't worth the price of cable, so rabbit ears it is.

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popsci

08/15/07 at 8:19 am

I still use Rabbit ears and here's why. When cable was first introduced,it was marketed as "commercial free". They told us that if you pay us a monthly subscription fee, you will not have to watch those annoying commercials. What happened? Now you have to pay for your viewing twice-first with your cable bill and then having to watch those mind numbing commercials!
Do you know any American that couldn't use a little time off the sofa now and then?-Bob (N.J.)

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popsci

08/17/07 at 3:45 pm

I am a computer programmer who, in additon to my wireless home network, also uses rabbit ears! And I am not some old hermit in Montana. I am a 29 year-old Brooklynite who doesn't watch much tv--besides rented or downloaded movies; hence the rabbit ears, which provide surprisingly keen reception these days on all the basic channels due to better craftsmanship and of course no interference from the zero neighbors doing the same. Too bad they won't work in a few years when the stations stop broadcasting that way. Hmm, will there be pirate tv stations?