Do Consumers Need to Understand Wireless Technologies?
Last week in Wilmington, N.C., database operator Spectrum Bridge launched the first commercial wireless network using unlicensed spectrum that was freed up in the shift from analog to digital television. In essence, the network operates in the white spaces between TV channels.
The technology is particularly useful for serving less densely populated areas, such as rural areas, where most vacant TV channels can be found. The low frequencies used by the white spaces travel well through buildings and varied terrain and can operate in a 50-mile radius with a single access point. Read more
New Hanover County Uses TV White Space
New Hanover County, N.C., was recognized last week as the first FCC approved Smart County in the United States. In achieving this goal, New Hanover also attained another first by using the first commercially available TV white spaces.
Spectrum Bridge supports this cloud-based technology with its FCC certified spectrum management technology. Those residents of New Hanover County in range of the deployment area will have access to several useful implementations including telemetry, remote security and remote utility monitoring in addition to other applications.
“We are extremely pleased with the installations of the white spaces systems at our parks and gardens,” said Chairman of New Hanover County Ted Davis. “This technology has proven to be an unobtrusive, environmentally friendly way to offer services to our citizens and the visitors at our parks and to give our staff more efficient ways to manage these locations.”
Nation’s First ‘White Spaces’ Smart Grid Trial
Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative & Telecommunications (PSREC), Google, and Spectrum Bridge Inc. are partnering together for the nation’s first trial of a smart grid wireless network trial utilizing TV “white spaces” spectrum– the unused TV broadcast channels made available by the transition from analog to digital TV.
Through the project, PSREC aims to more efficiently manage its supply and demand of electricity, and provide broadband access to an underserved community. PSREC serves Plumas, Lassen, and Sierra counties in California, and portions of Washoe County in Nevada. Read more
White Spaces Network Launches in Rural Town
Under an experimental license granted by the FCC, Spectrum Bridge designed, deployed and officially launched the first wireless TV white spaces network to distribute broadband Internet connectivity in Claudville, Va., last week.
White spaces are unused portions of the broadcast television spectrum. In late 2008 the FCC voted to allow devices to operate in the unlicensed spectrum, unused television frequencies between 54-698 MHz (TV Channels 2-51). However, the commission qualified the approval, requiring said devices to have sensing capabilities that would automatically shut them down should they interfere with incumbent users, typically local television operators and wireless microphone users. Read more



