• Reuters, Friday, November 7, 2008 11:30 AM

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Google co-founder Larry Page said better radio technology coupled with the FCC's recent decision to open the unused "white spaces" that exist between television channels would help improve Web access in the U.S.

In a conversation with the Wireless Communications Association, Page pointed out that radios are undergoing tremendous technological development. "I think the thing that people don't realize is that radios are on a similar trajectory to computers", he said, adding that radio technology has better reach than WiFi, which can't pass through more than two walls.

"Making access cheaper and more available in more places is probably the most important thing we can do," Page said. Martin agreed, saying that innovations in radio technology would help the U.S., which has fallen behind other countries, once again lead the way in broadband technology. According to Page, the new forms of radio address the issue of television signal interference by detecting local television channels and switching to frequencies not use. He said the new prototypes of radio microchips would be available in as little as 18 months.

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