By Michal Lev-Ram

The wireless spectrum auction ended last week but Google is not done lobbying the Federal Communications Commission.

On Monday the company sent a letter to the FCC outlining what it would like to do with so-called “white space” — airwaves found between broadcast channels that will become available when television switches from analog to digital early next year. Unlike the five blocks of spectrum recently up for auction, these airwaves are unlicensed and largely unused.

Google (GOOG) is proposing that the spectrum be used for mobile broadband services, including Internet access for upcoming — you guessed it — Android-running phones, which use an operating system promoted by Google. The company says it will ensure that devices operating in the unlicensed spectrum won’t interfere with TV channels or wireless microphone signals, and that it intends to provide the “technical support necessary to make these plans happen” at no cost to phonemakers.

The company said it is confident its proposal will “eliminate any remaining legitimate concerns about the merits of using the white space for unlicensed personal/portable devices.”

Google’s not the only one pushing the FCC to allow the unused spectrum to be used for mobile broadband services. Microsoft (MSFT), Dell (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) have also joined the “White Space Coalition.” But the proposal has drawn plenty opposition from groups like the National Association of Broadcasters, who worry that using white space for a wireless broadband service will interfere with digital TV transmissions.

By Michal Lev-Ram

The government’s high profile spectrum auction, which has attracted the likes of Google (GOOG), Verizon Wireless (VZ) and AT&T (T), is still far from over. Although a bid on one of its most coveted bundle of licenses, the so-called C block, neared $3 billion yesterday, no new bids were placed in the ninth round of bidding, which took place Tuesday morning. The opening bid for round ten on this slice of spectrum has been set at $3.4 billion, while the minimum reserve price set by the FCC is $4.6 billion .

There are five segments of 700 MHz spectrum — now used for analog television — up for grabs but the C block, a nationwide network well suited for broadband services, has attracted the most attention. That’s partly because of an FCC mandate Google lobbied hard for that requires the network must be kept open to any mobile devices. But if the FCC’s minimum asking price for this portion of the spectrum is not met, it’s likely the agency will try to auction it off without the “open access” requirement.

Google said last year it will meet the $4.6 billion reserve price for the C block. AT&T and Verizon were also expected to bid, but as this is a “blind” auction the identity of the participants will be kept secret until the auction is over.

So far, only one bid has come in for another portion of the spectrum, the D block, to be used for a nationwide public safety network. At $472 million, it’s far below the minimum asking price of $1.6 billion. A startup called Frontline Wireless initially had its eyes set on the D block, but had to drop out of the race earlier this month, reportedly due to lack of financing.

The FCC hopes to raise at least $10 billion from the spectrum auction. Looks like that might take a while.