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Despite US regulator the FCC's desire to line up a host of key vote on election day, November 4, it may reluctantly be forced to postpone the most controversial - on opening up the 'white spaces' within broadcast spectrum for license-exempt broadband wireless.

Although the FCC looked set to push through the ruling, following the publication of reports that said there was little risk of interference to broadcasters' signals, it is now considering delaying a decision, after the National Assocation of Broadcasters filed an emergency petition.

However, FCC spokesman Rob Kenny did point out that the white space proceeding has been open for several years and there have been several rounds of testing, all open to the public for comment. The unused scraps of spectrum could provide between 300MHz and 400MHz of capacity for use without licenses, provided certain anti-interference mechanisms were supported by any equipment. Google, Microsoft , Philips and Motorola have led a large group of vendors in lobbying for this spectrum to be harnessed to increase low cost broadband availability and support disruptive new operators.

The National Association of Broadcasters has opposed using the buffer spectrum, saying that the use of white spaces will interfere with licensed broadcast channels.

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