Saying it will is possible TV reception will be interfered with, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) CEO Robert Iger said in a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, that they should reject the request of Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) to free up television airwaves so the companies can offer mobile Internet access through them.
Other media heads joined Iger, with News Corp. (NWS-A) President Peter Chernin, NBC Universal (GE) CEO Jeff Zucker, and CBS Corp. (CBS-A) CEO Leslie Moonves agreeing people buying digital TV sets "have a right to expect their equipment will work."
This centers around the change to digital in 2009, where "white space" will be freed up, and companies want to use the vacant airwaves for unlicensed uses.
When Microsoft conducted a test with a device, it failed to show it wouldn't interfere with TV signals. Later on, Microsoft claimed the device was faulty, and asked for a chance to test with another device.
The media executives claim after the failure of the device, the technology isn't ready to be used without interfering with the television viewing experience of digital TV owners.
Microsoft, Google and other companies, want it to be able to offer consumers in the U.S. a better wireless broadband service, especially in rural areas.
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