FCC Certifies Carlson Wireless Technologies TV White Space Radio

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlson Wireless Technologies (CWT) announced today that The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified the company's RuralConnect TV white space (TVWS) radio system for use with the Spectrum Bridge TV white spaces database. This certification brings to market the world's first affordable long-distance, non-line-of-site (NLOS) fixed wireless broadband system.

Designed using flexible software-defined architecture and dynamic spectrum sharing, RuralConnect is authorized to transmit over "white spaces" in the UHF TV band (470-698 MHz), the unused frequencies between licensed television broadcasters opened by the FCC in 2010 for unlicensed public use.

The same propagation characteristics that once carried UHF television broadcasts around trees, buildings and hills and into America's living rooms can now be utilized to provide high-speed Internet to remote areas. By making wireless connectivity possible in places previously difficult or prohibitively expensive to reach, RuralConnect launches a new era of opportunity for rural communities demanding high-speed internet. It also expands the capability of businesses and governments needing to extend their communications and private networks, such as data monitoring and control for utilities, oil & gas operations, resource management, public safety, video surveillance, VoIP networks and more.

"FCC certification enables us to offer this technology domestically," said Jim Carlson, CEO of CWT. "And because of the FCC's stature worldwide, it also gives a boost to global efforts to adopt TVWS technology," Carlson continued. "Providing connectivity to underserved populations worldwide is more than an interest to us. It's our corporate mission."

RuralConnect is rapidly deployable and transmits at distances exceeding cellular and Wi-Fi, the line-of-sight technologies used to deliver broadband to hundreds of millions of urban and suburban customers worldwide.

RuralConnect has operated for the last three years in more than 58 trial deployments both domestically and internationally, including a highly successful trial with Google and others in 2013 with schools in Cape Town, South Africa. These trials have played a pivotal role in demonstrating to both regulators and potential users the ability of TVWS technology to provide high-speed data across rugged terrain.

"Carlson's RuralConnect is our radio of choice for challenging rural deployments," said Ken Garnett, CTO of Cal.net, a California wireless ISP which conducted one of the USA's largest commercially feasible TVWS experimental trials in 2013. "By successfully penetrating dense forests and skirting terrain obstructions where no other wireless technology is adequate, RuralConnect allows us to dramatically increase the success rate of our installations."

RuralConnect utilizes cognitive radio technology in collaboration with spectrum sharing databases to provide high-speed connectivity worldwide. This FCC approval authorizes use with the Spectrum Bridge database in the U.S.

"Many parts of the country and world lack high-speed broadband access due to the limitations of traditional wireless network technology," said Rod Dir, CEO of Spectrum Bridge. "Carlson has been one of the staunchest advocates for rural broadband deployment, and we are proud to partner with them as they pave the way in delivering solutions to this underserved market."

In 2014, CWT will seek FCC approval for use of RuralConnect with other approved databases by Google and iconectiv.

Visit www.ruralconnect.com for more information.

About Carlson Wireless Technologies

California-based Carlson Wireless Technologies, Inc., (CWT) is a leading radio equipment manufacturer, pioneering wireless communications for rural and remote environments since 1999. Known for his visionary research and product development, founder and CEO James Carlson is a longtime advocate for rural wireless broadband. An early supporter of freeing unused TV spectrum for public use, CWT has developed the world's first affordable high-speed white space broadband solution.

Contact: Gannon Rogers
[email protected] - 408 524 1696

SOURCE Carlson Wireless Technologies