What Secret Power Transmission Experiment Is Google Conducting?

Google appears to be working on something big and interesting at Spaceport America in New Mexico, but too bad, it hasn't left behind many clues just yet for people to piece together. From what can be deduced, however, the Mountain View-based company seems to be conducting an experiment that involves high power transmission.

The revelation comes from a document (via HackADay) that was published on the FCC website. The document reveals highly directional power transmissions operating at 2.5GHz, 5.8GHz, 24GHz, 71-76GHz, and 81-86GHz frequency channels.

The other interesting nugget of information in the document is the name of the place: Spaceport America, which is a 12,000-foot runway in the middle of New Mexico. The place is also occasionally used by SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic for space flight-related testing.

Google insists that its experiment doesn't interfere with thresholds established by the Commission. "Finally, as noted, Google has already been conducting similar tests in this area under a grant of Special Temporary Authority, and no disruptions have been noted," the document reads.

The document is riddled with a number of details redacted upon Google's requests, as doing otherwise has the potential of causing "significant commercial, economic, and competitive harm." In the document, however, you can spot things like "a 70-80GHz transmitter with an effective radiated power 96,411" mentioned. Which goes on to suggest that Google could be working on either Project Skybender or Project Loon, two projects with which it aims to bring Internet connectivity to people. The secrecy Google is requesting from FCC indicates that the project is likely big-scale.