The FCC recently announced (pdf) that the agency would be conducting another round of "White Space" broadband testing starting January 24. A six-partner coalition (including Microsoft, Google and Dell) named the Wireless Innovation Alliance wants to use the so-called "white space" spectrum -- partially freed by the migration to digital television -- to offer un-served consumers Internet access via the airwaves.

The companies submitted a device for testing to the FCC last year, but tests showed the device was unable to play nice (pdf) with nearby wireless signals.

Shortly after the test, the coalition stated that their prototype malfunctioned, and that they do have a working model. Groups like the National Association of Broadcasters, likely feeling threatened by the new potential broadcast capabilities of the technology, have been very vocal opponents of the plan, insisting to anyone who'll listen that the devices will create wireless armageddon.

This morning the Associated Press reports that the devices ran into trouble yet again during testing. NAB seems to be celebrating the problems, stating they only support their claim that the devices will cause interference. Microsoft and company say that the devices ran into power problems that were unrelated to interference:The coalition hopes ultimately that such devices will be used to deliver inexpensive broadband access, particularly to rural areas.