A political showdown over public broadband could be brewing, with the tech industry's biggest companies lining up on opposing sides. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants to "create super Wi-Fi networks across the country," according to a report from the Washington Post. But that takes the commission's intentions a little too far. It would be more accurate to say the agency wants to make room for this kind of network to exist by handing over a more powerful slice of the wireless spectrum to the public. Companies such as Google and Microsoft support the proposal, thinking the plan "would spark an explosion of innovation," according the the Post. But others like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Intel and Qualcomm are against the idea, and all sent a letter to the FCC last month denouncing the plan. One nation, under Wi-FiThe Post's piece spoke of free Wi-Fi networks that cover large areas, available in most urban cities and many rural places. The signal would be so strong that it could support causal use of the internet for the public and allow users to make cellphone calls using the network as well. The signal for a super Wi-Fi network would have to be beefed up from home versions to be able to penetrate concrete, travel longer distances and get around obstacles like trees and buildings. Achieving this kind of public network is not a question of technology, but one of space. Right now, there isn't enough room on the available wireless spectrum
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