Google wants to make the internet faster. By speeding up the “most important computing platform of our time,” Google believes that consumers and businesses will experience a wide range of benefits, many of which we can imagine, some of which might be revealed over time.

There’s no product or specific consumer offering here. Rather Google is trying to advocate multiple initiatives in parallel that the company believes are important to usher in a better, faster internet (including for mobile devices). This Google Code Blog post lays out the arguments and suggestions as does the video below:

Google very much needs third party participation and cooperation and so has established this site to teach best practices and offer tools to speed up websites. In addition, Google says it will seek to advocate broadband friendly practices in Washington D.C. and abroad.

One can pretty easily understand Google’s motives. A faster internet means more usage and a better online infrastructure means that the web and the browser become better development platforms.

Theoretically no technology company should object; all would presumably benefit from a faster and more user-friendly internet. The fourth bullet of the Google post, about the so-called White Spaces initiative, is where some controversy might creep in to the broader effort:

While there are now more than 400 million broadband subscribers worldwide, broadband penetration is still relatively low in many areas of the world. Steps have been taken to bring the benefits of broadband to more people, such as the FCC’s decision to open up the white spaces spectrum, for which the Internet community, including Google, was a strong champion. Bringing the benefits of cheap reliable broadband access around the world should be one of the primary goals of our industry

Not everyone, chiefly incumbent ISPs and maybe wireless carriers, would be so happy with cheaper, more accessible broadband. Depending on ultimate retail cost it could be somewhat disruptive to current ISP and WiFi business models. But all that remains to be seen.

Google is clearly pursuing self-interest here but in this case self interest would appear to be broadly aligned with the interests of other web companies and the public more generally.

Although it’s been around for a little while, Google is doing some promotion of its new “Small Business Network.” Believe it or not it’s a lobbying effort to represent small business interests in Washington DC and at the state level. It’s also a clever way to open a new direct communication channel with SMBs:

Google’s Small Business Network was created to give small business owners the information and tools to promote business-friendly policies in Washington, D.C. and state capitols. The Internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for small businesses to start up, grow, and reach a worldwide customer base. But realizing its potential requires your participation.

Google wants to know about the issues that are important to you so that we can better invest in your goals and objectives and ultimately, your success. New laws, regulations and other public policy initiatives at the federal and state levels should be designed with your best interests in mind.

There’s also a little bit of what one might call “reciprocal lobbying” going on:

We want to help you stay on top of many issues, the first two of which are increasing high-speed Internet or broadband access and preserving an open Internet. An open, accessible Internet is a critical element in helping you reach beyond yesterday’s customers. The Internet has given you the power to compete in new markets and stay in touch with partners across the U.S. or overseas. Infrastructure that enables high-speed Internet and standards that keep it open have the potential to help create jobs in your hometown and around the world. Learn more and sign our open letter to Congress.

Assuming that Google can get enough attention from SMBs, this effort could be quite valuable in several ways: in product development, PR/communications, customer acquisition and loyalty and so on. Google might also develop an effective tool for grassroots lobbying on its issues (i.e., net neutrality).

The US Federal Communications Commission approved a plan to allow unlicensed broadcast TV spectrum to be used by companies to create wireless broadband services that amount to “WiFi on steroids.” This was a hotly contested issue, with tech and electronics companies like Google, HP, Microsoft, Intel, Dell and Motorola, among a number of others, lining up in favor and a coalition of sports teams, theater producers, musicians and broadcasters, among others, opposing the plan.

The opponents and detractors unsuccessfully argued that new uses of the white spaces “radio spectrum,” existing “between” frequencies used by broadcasters and others, might disrupt broadcasts or live performances. Initial testing of devices on this spectrum did indicate there was some cause for concern. But upon retesting and some lobbying publicly and privately, the FCC directors voted to approve the plan to allow access to this spectrum.

Here’s what Google envisions:

Google and other companies (including Dell, EarthLink, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft, and Philips) have formed the “White Spaces Coalition,” to persuade the FCC to establish appropriate interference standards that would allow entrepreneurs to develop fixed and mobile devices that utilize these airwaves. Earlier this year, the coalition submitted two prototype devices (from Microsoft and Philips) to the FCC’s engineers to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.

The idea is to create wireless broadband using this spectrum that will effectively ensure continuous and near-universal coverage for internet-connected devices (fixed and mobile). Unlike conventional radio/wireless spectrum, the “unlicensed” part of this means that no one has to pay anything to the FCC to use it. That stands in contrast to the nearly $20 billion paid as part of the recent 700MHz spectrum auction earlier this year (dominated by AT&T and Verizon).

What happens now? Google co-founder Larry Page makes a prediction:

We will soon have “Wi-Fi on steroids,” since these spectrum signals have much longer range than today’s Wi-Fi technology and broadband access can be spread using fewer base stations resulting in better coverage at lower cost.

In a semi-related vein, Google previously filed a patent application that describes an open, competitive marketplace for wireless telecommunications and broadband services. It would theoretically permit users to move with their mobile devices (computers, phones, etc.) between networks and, essentially, always be assured of a connection at the best price. I was quite skeptical this could ever come into being as a practical matter. But whether or not this specific idea is ever translated into reality, the approval of the white spaces plan may amount to the same thing.

Google is also an investor in Clearwire, the Sprint majority owned WiMax venture now in operation in several US markets.

Stepping back, as the white spaces spectrum are utilized, we will likely see more options for consumers for internet access. Precisely when and how much this will cost is unclear. We may also see (in time) a range of new devices that tap into this spectrum (like Amazon’s Kindle does with Sprint’s network) to offer connectivity on the go — perhaps without any sort of access subsription or consumer account.

Many of those new devices may look very different than today’s netbooks or smartphones, but could also be powered by a Windows OS or Android or Linux. In time the internet may get integrated into many more types of devices (e.g., home refrigerators, in-store kiosks, new digital newspapers, etc.) via this spectrum as well.

It opens up a range of intriguing possibilities for consumers, tech and media companies and device makers. And it points to a not-too-distant future of near-ubiquitous internet connectivity.

There’s more discussion at Techmeme.

Google backs project to connect 3bn to net from the Financial Times reports Google will announce they’re contributing to a project to place 16 low-earth orbit satellites to provide internet access to 3 billion people in Africa and other emerging markets.

Google is working with John Malone, the cable television magnate, and HSBC to set up O3b Networks to purchase the satellites and split the $750 million bill. The deal should reduce the cost of internet by 95% in those areas.

Larry Alder, product manager in Google’s alternative access group, told the Financial Times, “this really fits into Google’s mission [to extend internet use] around the developing world.”

We have been covering how Google may provide internet access to those users who don’t have it yet for a while now. While the Submarine Cable Negotiator job at Google was pretty interesting, I think this new story may be even more interesting.

Floating a New Idea For Going Wireless, Parachute Included from the Wall Street Journal reports how Google is interested in possibly using disposable hydrogen-filled balloons packed with miniature versions of cellphone towers inside of them to provide internet access to those people who have a hard time getting it. Space Data Corp creates these balloons and launches 10 balloons a day across the Southern U.S. The balloons fly about 20 miles up in the sky, providing reception to towns that do not have cell phone towers.

Space Data says that a single balloon can serve an area otherwise requiring 40 cell towers. It is a cheap and efficient method of providing cell phone and wireless mobile access, and that is why Google is reportedly interested in the technology.

Here is a quick video from the Wall Street Journal that explains this much better than I can:

Remember that Submarine Cable Negotiator job we mentioned being available at Google last month? Turn out Google’s not just negotiating for undersea cable use. It has its own “Unity” project underway to run communication cable of its own under the Pacific.

Spotted via John Paczkowski, Google plans new undersea “Unity” cable across Pacific from Commsday has more about the plans

Says CommsDay:

Google is planning a multi-terabit undersea communications cable across the Pacific Ocean for launch in 2009, Communications Day has learned.

The Unity cable has been under development for several months, with a group of carriers and Google meeting for high-level talks on the plan in Sydney last week.

Google spokesperson Barry Schnitt is quoted about the rumor:

Additional infrastructure for the Internet is good for users and there are a number of proposals to add a Pacific submarine cable. We’re not commenting on any of these plans.

The job opening at Google is still available today. This new news does help clarify the job description:

Submarine cable Strategic Negotiators are specifically responsible for working with internal technical and business teams to identify, select, and negotiate submarine networking contracts as part of the development of Google’s global backbone.

Additional coverage at Techmeme.

It sounds a little like the name of a band: The White Space Coalition. We previously wrote about the joint effort (by Google, Microsoft, Intel and others) to provide Internet access to consumers through unused parts of the television spectrum, so-called “white space.” See our previous coverage in “Microsoft, Google Suffer Setback On ‘White Space’ Internet Access Plan” and “Microsoft And ‘White Space’ Coalition To Try Again On Internet Access Plan.” Now Google, on its Public Policy Blog, speaks about the issue and its hope for the unused TV spectrum.

A coalition of companies that includes Microsoft, Google, Intel and Dell were recently rebuffed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in their combined effort to offer wireless Internet access on unused portions of the nation’s television airwaves, so-called “white space.” The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) found that the coalition’s hardware failed to avoid interference with existing broadcast signals.

However, The Washington Post reports today that Microsoft disputes the FCC’s findings and plans, together with the coalition members, to press for approval of the device. The FCC apparently plans another meeting on Thursday to discuss further testing options for the coalition device.

According to a Dow Jones report, prototype devices from Google, Microsoft and a coalition of companies that includes Philips, Intel and Dell failed an initial test that might have allowed the group to offer wireless internet and potentially other services on “unused portions of the nation’s television airwaves.”

The Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) found that the coalition’s hardware failed to avoid interference with existing broadcast signals.

Here’s Danny’s earlier post that provides some background information. Apparently the door isn’t closed on approval of the coalition efforts. According to the article:

However, the OET said that “several features that are contemplated as possible options to minimize the interference potential” of the devices were not implemented in the submitted prototypes, suggesting an opportunity to submit new, altered versions for testing.

Seen in the larger context of Google’s push for open wireless spectrum access, it’s part of an initiative to broaden consumer wireless and Internet options. It may also partly be seen as an insurance policy of sorts against any anti-net neutrality legislation or other, similar outcomes in Washington.

In a related story, the Wall Street Journal reports on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to take the Google-Earthlink free WiFi initiative to the voters and get it moving again. The plan had been stalled by board of supervisors in fighting and municipal politics and Earthlink is apparently rethinking the economics of the project in the wake of those delays and setbacks.

FCC shuns Google plans for open mobile network from Computer Business Review reports that US Federal Communications Commission chair Kevin Martin likes Google’s wireless spectrum bid proposal but is not a fan of all of Google’s requirements.

Google said they would bid $4.6 billion on the wireless spectrum, if the FCC would comply with all of their requirements. It looks like the FCC is unlikely to comply fully because Google’s proposal is likely to discourage companies from bidding on the airwaves.

The FCC is worried that companies like Verizon and AT&T won’t bid on the spectrum because Google’s proposal requires licensees to lease their networks to wireless service providers. It seems like Verizon and AT&T would only bid on the spectrum if they can “sit on it” and not use it. Obviously, this goes completely against Google’s point of opening up the wireless spectrum.

The big question is, will Google still bid on the spectrum, if the FCC does not agree to all their terms?