WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday struck a compromise that would give technology companies some access to the white space between television channels while addressing broadcasters' fears that new gadgets could interfere with their signals.

Under pressure from Congress, the FCC took the first step toward allowing fixed wireless devices, such as broadband receivers in homes, to use most of the vacant channels in any given market after the digital TV transition in February 2009....

A major telecommunications bill pending in the U.S. Senate calls for the vacant white space spectrum to be opened to unlicensed devices and directs the FCC to develop rules for use of the spectrum within 270 days of the bill's passage. The pressure forced the FCC to act, said J.H. Snider, research director for the Wireless Future Program at the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank.

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