Google didn't place any winning bids in the 700 MHz spectrum auction, but it has set its sights on "white spaces," or unregulated spectrum between digital channels known to the outside world as static.

The search engine giant on Monday submitted a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it claims should satisfy detractors like the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

Google denied that the plans mean it is eyeing entry into the wireless market.

"We do not intend to support opening up the white spaces just so Google can become a wireless carrier or build a wireless network," Rick Whitt, Google's Washington telecom and media counsel, said during a conference call with reporters.

The plan could, however, mesh well with Google's Android open-source mobile platform partnership, Whitt said. "Android-powered handsets should begin appearing commercially later this year, and would be an excellent match for the TV white space."

But what are they actually arguing over?

At issue is the broadcaster shift from analog to digital signals in February 2009, which free up some open, unregulated spectrum between the digital channels, or white spaces. Companies like Google and Microsoft want to use for wireless broadband service, but broadcasters believe that allowing access to this spectrum could disrupt TV signals.

Both sides have been battling back and forth over the last year, with NAB most recently lashing out at Microsoft for glitches in a prototype device submitted to the FCC.

Google submitted a plan to the FCC in December that advocated a technology known as spectrum sensing, which scans spectrum for unused frequencies. NAB opposes the process. Google's Monday plan, therefore, issues support for two additional technologies: a combination of geolocation services, designed to protect broadcast TV, and beacons, which protect wireless microphones; and "safe harbors" for wireless microphones, which would not allow white space devices to transmit on channels 36 to 38.

Beacons and safe harbors, together with spectrum sensing, "should put any reasonable minds at ease whether there's any interference with wireless microphones," Whitt said. "The beacon approach, in particular, seems to be almost foolproof."

NAB said Monday that it was reviewing Google's plan. But don't expect them to applaud Google's efforts just yet. Google's plans are largely based on a plan issued last fall by Motorola, and that wasn't exactly greeted with open arms by NAB.

UPDATE: NAB issued a statement Monday night. "We are pleased that Google now seems to realize that spectrum sensing alone won't protect viewers against interference from unlicensed devices," said executive vice president Dennis Wharton. "Unfortunately, simply adding geolocation and beacon sensing does not mean that mobile operation is suddenly feasible. Portable, mobile personal device operation in the same band as TV broadcasting continues to be a guaranteed recipe for producing interference and should not be allowed under any circumstances."

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