The Federal Communications Commission has finally given green light to the much disputed issue of the white spaces, to the satisfaction of tech companies such as Google or Microsoft, and the disappointment of television broadcasters who continue to fear that the unlicensed wireless devices will interfere with television signals.

In order to prevent that however, the Federal Communications Commission also released a set of rules for the wireless devices, in order to allow both consumers and businesses to enjoy the broadband data and services, but also prevent all harmful interference from occurring.

According to the Commission, the rules are an important first step in the safe use of the white spaces, and refer to both fixed and personal/portable devices. For example, the devices must include a geolocation capability and provisions to access over the Internet a data base of the incumbent services, such as full power and low power TV stations and cable system headends, as well as spectrum-sensing technology.

The Federal Communications Commission said they will have a data base in place, which will tell the white space devices what spectrum may be used at that particular location. All devices will undergo certification by the FCC in order to ensure their proper use in the spectrum, the Commission informed.

FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin called the decision to allow the use of television white spaces spectrum “a victory for consumers,” also highlighting the fact that opening the white spaces basically means Americans will soon benefit from “WiFi on steroids” services. “I fully expect that everything from enhanced home broadband networks, to intelligent peer-to-peer devices, and even small communications networks will come into being in TV white spaces,“ Martin said.

The Chairman also noted that the set of rules established by the Commission will prevent disruption of TV services, wireless microphones, or other permitted uses of this spectrum. Furthermore, Martin said, opening up the TV white spaces furthers the goal of creating a powerful wireless network that will benefit consumers across the country.

The white spaces announcement was made in conjunction with two other announcements regarding the Verizon Wireless – Alltel transaction, and the Sprint-Nextel/Clearwire transaction. FCC approved both of them, also in the hope of giving consumers choice and allowing them to benefit from innovative wireless services.

In the case of Verizon Wireless and Alltel, the Federal Communications Commission found that closing the transaction would benefit public interest, and therefore approved Cellular licenses, broadband PCS licenses, Local Multipoint Distribution Service licenses, Local Television Transmission Service licenses, Common Carrier Fixed Point-to-Point Microwave licenses, and international and domestic section 214 authorizations to be transferred as part of the transaction.

Regarding the Sprint-Nextel merger with Clearwire, FCC approved it, but conditioned the transaction on Sprint-Nextel’s compliance with a voluntary commitment to phase out its requests for federal high-cost universal service support over a five-year transition period and with a voluntary commitment to use counties for measuring compliance with the Commission’s wireless E911 location accuracy rules on handset-based technologies.