Spectrum Bridge Inc. Launches White Space Web Site

ShowMyWhiteSpace.com makes it easy to find available TV white space frequencies while promoting understanding of their applications, uses and benefits

Lake Mary, Fla.-February 23, 2009- Spectrum Bridge, creator of SpecEx, the online marketplace for spectrum, has announced the launch of the new Web site ShowMyWhiteSpace.com [1].  Visitors to the site can use an easy online tool to find open TV channels (known as TV white space) available at any location in the U.S.  The site also seeks to educate consumer, business and government users on the applications and benefits of this new unlicensed broadband spectrum.

As one of the dividends of the digital TV transition, the FCC was able to sell 84 MHz of TV spectrum in an auction early last year for almost $20 billion.  On November 4, 2008, the FCC issued rules making the remaining unused TV channels (i.e. TV white space) available for unlicensed use, meaning they can be used by anyone free of charge.  Because the number of broadcast TV stations varies throughout the country, the amount and frequencies of available white space channels can differ significantly at any given location.  ShowMyWhiteSpace.com is a free Web site that makes it easy for anyone to see which of these frequencies are currently available at home, office, school, etc.

"White space opens up much needed wireless bandwidth that could provide significantly more access to broadband connectivity, particularly for rural communities,"  according to Ed Thomas, Technology Policy Advisor at the law firm of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis.  "There are numerous applications for these soon-to-be-available airwaves.  The most exciting ones are those that have yet to be developed and will be stimulated by the technical innovation spurred by this new spectrum."

Beginning June 12, 2009, unused white space frequencies are scheduled to become available, and can be used for a wide variety of applications, including home and enterprise WiFi networks, wireless multi-media distribution, wide area broadband network connectivity, wireless video, municipal wireless networking and many other innovative applications. Devices that take advantage of these new frequencies are expected to begin entering the market toward the end of 2009.

"We have seen tremendous excitement about the opportunity that this vast swath of free, unlicensed spectrum opened up for new and innovative services.  However, up until now, there has been no easy way for anyone to determine where or how much TV white space was actually available," said Peter Stanforth CTO and cofounder of Spectrum Bridge.  "We want to make it as straightforward as possible for people to ‘show my white space', while also helping them understand how they could benefit from white space-based solutions."

Although these frequencies are unlicensed and free to use, white space access points and certain other devices must be registered with an Internet database. White space devices must also be capable of sensing and avoiding channels reserved for protected users in their area, including TV stations, wireless microphones and other grandfathered users of these TV bands.

In addition to identifying available white space channels, the new Web site also provides historical and technical information on TV white space, as well as links to official FCC documents and other white space related resources.  Visitors can also use an interactive map to plot specific TV broadcast and other protected wireless services to see why certain TV channels are not available in their location.  The site allows wireless microphone users to pre-register their information with Spectrum Bridge, who will ensure its secure delivery to a white space database manager, once these entities have been designated by the FCC.

Spectrum Bridge is inviting everyone - consumers and organizations alike - to visit ShowMyWhiteSpace.com [1] for more information, and join in the discussion on our community forum.

About Spectrum Bridge

Spectrum Bridge Inc. (SBI) has created SpecEx, the world's first online marketplace for spectrum.  The company's solution allows the entire wireless ecosystem of spectrum holders, equipment providers, and system integrators to benefit from serving the growing demand for reliable business and mission-critical connectivity from wireless communications system users.  It is also the creator of ShowMyWhiteSpace.com, a site dedicated to making TV white space easy for everyone to find and understand. Spectrum Bridge was established in March 2007 by wireless networking industry veterans from Motorola, Lucent, and Nortel.  The company is privately held and headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. For more information, contact us at 866-598-7426, or visit www.spectrumbridge.com [2].