Quick Q&A With Spectrum Bridge CTO Peter Stanforth

October 22, 2009

LAKE MARY, FLA.: TVB sent some questions to Peter Stanforth, (right) chief technology officer for Spectrum Bridge, the company that designed the white-space broadband network recently launched in Claudville, Va. The system is said to avoid interfering with local TV station signals through the use of a data base that Spectrum Bridge has compiled from FCC information.

TVB: I’ve heard SpectrumBridge’s data base is inaccurate.
Stanforth: The data is taken directly from the FCC license databases. If someone feels the data is inaccurate it is most likely due to a different interpretation of the [FCC] current draft rules. With the next report and order, we anticipate the rules will be clarified and that this perception of inaccuracy will be retired once and for all. It is also possible that some data being supplied to the FCC is inaccurate and we encourage the TV broadcast community to check, verify and correct the data, if needed, that is contained in the FCC database.

TVB:There are no white space receivers in the market yet, so what are they using in Claudville?
Stanforth: We are using prototype white spaces radios designed to meet the current white spaces guidelines defined in the FCC Report and Order. The radios are being deployed under an experimental license granted to Spectrum Bridge by the FCC.

Customer device connectivity is supplied through FCC approved 802.11 WiFi access points.

TVB: Were broadcasters there were included or consulted?
Stanforth: Yes we did this as required by the terms and conditions of our experimental license.

TVB: How is interference to incumbent licensees being monitored?
Stanforth: We have taken measurements and cannot identify any interference with incumbent licensees. Through information and coordination with the FCC and NAB we do not expect any interference impacts.