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.

The Claudville, Va., network uses sensing technology from Spectrum Bridge, with software and webcams supplied by Microsoft, and PCs supplied by Dell. The project was funded by the TDF Foundation.

The white-spaces network is providing the middle-mile link between the wired backhaul and the WiFi hotspot networks deployed in Claudville’s business area, as well as the local school. The same network is also providing last mile broadband connectivity directly to end users.

View the release.
Spectrum Bridge has more.
NTCA has more about white spaces.

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2. NetAmerica Launches Rural 4G Pilot Network
3. IEEE Publishes ‘White-Spaces’ or ‘Super WiFi’ Standard
4. Verizon Launches Website: LTE in Rural America
5. Ubiquisys Launches Outdoor Femtocell for Rural Areas