Microsoft, Google and Dell have formed the backbone of a six-partner coalition named the Wireless Innovation Alliance. Their goal is to use the so-called unlicensed "white space" spectrum -- partially freed by the migration to digital television -- to offer un-served consumers inexpensive Internet access via the airwaves (with these companies obviously providing the hardware, software and most importantly to Google: ads).

However, tests at the FCC haven't gone well, with an initial round of testing showing the device couldn't cleanly avoid nearby signals, and a second round suffering from power problems. That isn't stopping Google co-founder Larry Page from sharing his vision of "Wi-Fi on steroids" as part of a discussion this week at the New America Foundation (see video). The Google blog suggests Page believes it's inevitable:The hardware working in tests would help. The National Association of Broadcasters have tried to argue that white space broadband is akin to interference armageddon (check out their new website), but I think they're equally afraid of a new competitor in the broadcast space. Meanwhile, the wireless phone industry, equally afraid of competition, would prefer this spectrum is licensed and auctioned off (because they know they'd win).

Google, Dell and Microsoft aren't exactly tiny, but when you consider the collective political muscle of their opponents on this front (broadcasters, cable companies, AT&T, Verizon and even the NFL) they might be out-gunned.