Remember the Digital TV (DTV) transition back in 2009 where Congress set June 12 as the deadline for full power television stations to stop broadcasting analog signals? If you were amongst the lucky that did not pay for cable services and still wanted to watch regular (or free) television, you had to purchase one of those dtv set-top-box converters.
The idea behind the DTV transition was that by ceasing broadcasting in the analog channels it would free up broadcast spectrum for public safety communications and the left over “white spaces” between channels could then be auctioned off to companies so that they may provide advanced wireless services to consumers. Well now that idea may be put into practice as the FCC plans to vote on regulations governing the use of spectrum gaps or “white spaces.”