Carlson Wireless Technologies

In response to the ever-growing need to close the digital divide, Carlson Wireless, working with Nominet, is the 1st to complete integration of their RuralConnect Gen 3 TV White Space radio to support the DSA-compliant databases. The TVWS ecosystem is now ready for Commercial deployment in European and African countries.

What can be done to improve the accessibility of information for about 24 million people? In the United States, it would involve reserving 3 unused TV white spaces for private companies to provide broadband connection. Dan Perkins, author, commentator, philanthropist, says knowledge is power when it comes to connecting the rural poor. I believe we can give them a better quality of life. He says it’s time for Ajit Pai and the FCC to act.

TechNet.org, a national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy, voices support for use of the television spectrum for rural broadband.

There is a global race against time to bring affordable broadband access by the year 2020. But as Dave Heiner, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the Regulatory Affairs at Microsoft points out, "If we are to come close to that then we need to start now." Microsoft intends to put a TV White Space device in schools, covering over 7,500 students with internet access all at once in order to address the homework gap. Heiner says "The only thing standing in the way for TVWS is the challenge of controlling it."