Developing A Blueprint For White Spaces

A Q&A with Rick Rotondo of Spectrum Bridge.

The Federal Communications Commission rules opening up so-called white spaces in the TV broadcast band for unlicensed services and devices are not yet final. Still deeply concerned that the influx of unlicensed contraptions into the band will disrupt TV reception, broadcasters are challenging the rules at the FCC and in court. Nonetheless, services providers and supporting technology companies are moving ahead with plans to exploit the availability of high-quality broadcast spectrum. One of these pioneering efforts is in Wilmington, N.C., and surrounding Hanover County (DMA 132) — the TV market that holds the distinction of being the first to cut off its analog TV service and go digital-only back in 2008. Working with the city and county governments, TV Band Services and Spectrum Bridge last month launched a white space trial in which the governments will keep an eye on highways and parks using remote cameras linked via white space frequencies. The trial also includes remote monitoring of wetlands and public WiFi in the parks so folks can access the Internet as they picnic. Other planned applications include monitoring and control of the water pump station, medical telemetry and expanded broadband access in the schools. Rick Rotondo has been deeply involved in the project as chief marketing officer at Spectrum Bridge. In this interview with TVNewsCheck, Rotondo talks about how the white space technology is being put to work in North Carolina and how broadcasters could make use of it, too, once they accept that it is here to stay.