The Washington Post explores how a six-partner coalition (including Microsoft, Google and Dell) wants to use the so-called "white space" spectrum -- partially freed by the migration to digital television -- to offer consumers Internet access via the airwaves. Microsoft submitted such a device today to the FCC for testing. There's an immense potential for interference with existing systems here, and some say available spectrum could be too limited (particularly in urban markets) to really compete with incumbent offerings -- but this is definitely something to watch.

The heavy hitters involved certainly give the push a validity it ordinarily wouldn't get. "[The Coalition] recognizes that the heart of the problem is a lack of competition on the broadband platform," says Google's Rick Whitt. "We're very interested in finding ways to create platforms for other broadband connectivity." Wi-Fi Networking News points to this report on white space spectrum that explores potential uses (summary & full report pdf).

The report claims that the wireless broadband industry "could deliver Internet access to every American household for as little as $10 a month, by some estimates" by using the freed spectrum. First, though, the FCC needs to be convinced that the mystery device won't be disruptive to existing services -- something explored in a writeup at TV Technology.