Google has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to apparently conduct testing on, well, something. But it's not a new wireless service some have hoped it would be, CNET has exclusively learned.
Steven Crowley, a wireless engineer, discovered the application, which was filed by Google last week. The application asks for permission to test frequencies across the 2524 to 2546 MHz range and 2567 to 2625 MHz range. According to Crowley, those ranges are reserved for Educational Broadband Service and Broadband Radio Service. But here's the catch: Clearwire, a company that Google had owned a slice in until last year, uses the ranges for its mobile broadband service.
Predictably, that has prompted speculation over whether Google is testing its own wireless network. The company currently offers free Wi-Fi service in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City, and has been dipping its toe in the service waters with Google Fiber in Kansas City.
Google, however, has not provided any details on its plans in the FCC petition. The report is heavily redacted and includes only one exhibit outlining where it will place base stations to test the service in its Mountain View headquarters.
Given the relative inability of concrete information, some circumstantial evidence is being drawn to guess at Google's plans. The filing, for example, was authorized by Google vice president of Access Services, Milo Medin. Google's Access Services handles its Fiber offering and wireless initiatives.
However, the spectrum range in question currently does not work natively with any popular consumer devices. In addition, a source with knowledge of Google's plans, has told CNET that the testing is just that, and at this time, the search giant has no plans to deliver a consumer-facing service with the spectrum.
So, what is Google up to with this testing? At this point, according to the source, it's nothing we'll be using, and falls in line with Access Services' charge of regularly testing wireless technologies.
Google declined CNET's request for comment on the report.
Google asks FCC for wireless spectrum, but don't get too excited
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Google asks FCC for wireless spectrum, but don't get too excited
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Google asks FCC for wireless spectrum, but don't get too excited
