Immediately after the Federal Communications Commission released a report on a second round of testing for the controversial use of the “white spaces,” the reactions from both the TV broadcasters, who oppose the use of the white space, and companies who believe in establishing a wireless network in the now unused space, started to appear.

Microsoft, one of the strong supporters of using the spaces between TV channels to build a wireless network, applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s report: “the FCC has now crossed an important milestone in the path to establishing final rules of the road for the use of the white spaces.”

Furthermore, Microsoft urged the Commissioners to come to a decision, and adopt the rules that would allow all Americans to
realize the full potential and benefits of the white spaces, which will enable “a new wave of innovation and Internet services and
products.”

On the other hand, the National Association of Broadcasters, who opposes the use of the white spaces, filed an Emergency Request with the Federal Communications Commission, demanding them to seek comment on the technical report released this Wednesday. The report, NAB says, contains findings that conclusively demonstrate that unlicensed devices relying solely on spectrum threaten the viability of TV reception.

NAB, together with the Association of Maximum Service Television (MSTV), ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMCV), all questioned the conclusion of FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology’s report: “while the below-signed parties have only begun to review the report it is already clear that the OET report’s conclusions are not supported and are in fact
contradicted by the underlying data.”

Both tech companies and TV broadcasters will need to wait for the November 4 voting. However, broadcasters are more worried than ever, seeing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s support for the use of the white spaces.