While the 700 MHZ spectrum auction debate goes on, as James explained well below (and why it matters), another spectrum issue has been bubbling under: Microsoft, Philips, Google, Intel Corp. and others have formed a coalition pushing to open up so-called “white spaces,” or digital TV spectrum residing in between bands, for unlicensed use by portable Internet/mobile devices. But in a filing with the FCC Thursday, Shure, the maker of those expensive microphones and headphones, complained that prototypes submitted by Microsoft and Philips to prove Internet devices using white spaces won’t interfere with licensed broadcasts are lacking, reports MarketWatch.

FCC is working on completing white spaces prototype testing, and is expected to announce results some time in the next few days…Depending on the testing results, the FCC could make a final ruling on white spaces use as soon as October. Says Shure: “These platforms are not representative of the intelligent portable devices that the Coalition has promoted as future products that will operate without interference…The Commission should not rush to judgment under pressure from manufacturers eager to gain access to new spectrum.” This will give ammo to other incumbents as well.

White Spaces coalition said that Shure is making incorrect assumptions about technical specifications of potential white spaces devices.