Marketwatch reported this week that Microsoft was pulling out of the FCC’s “white space” testing. Microsoft’s numerous technical problems with its white space equipment during previous FCC tests have been widely reported, and it appears that the company has not been able to resolve the problems. Marketwatch noted that Google, another white space device (WSD) proponent, has not submitted equipment for testing by the FCC, although it did provide results of its own testing. The FCC testing has been open to the public. While I have not been able to attend any of the tests, third-party reports indicate that there are major problems with WSDs using sensing technology to determine if a TV channel is being used.

Marketwatch has this comment from Microsoft spokesman Ginny Terzano, “Our position remains the same including our confidence in the FCC process, the viability of the technology and our belief [that] the use of the white spaces spectrum will be beneficial to consumers.”