In early 2009 U.S. television is going completely digital. One question that has been raised is what happens to all of the spectral bandwidth that will be freed up as a result? Adaptrum is a company creating one answer. Adaptrum is planning to use the White Spaces (unused radio frequencies) freed up by television’s departure from the world of analog to provide wide area broadband access to consumers.

Filling The White Spaces

Companies like Microsoft and Google are excited about the potential a technology like this has for mobile phones and other handheld mobile devices. It would allow for long range, broadband speed internet access without substantial infrastructure changes.

Even so, the technology is not without its critics. Among the detractors are TV broadcasters and makers of wireless audio systems. They believe that if systems like Adaptrum’s are allowed unlicensed access to these White Spaces, that they could interfere with the function of their products. If anyone can broadcast on these frequencies, spectral interference could be common.

The final answer to the question will come from the government as they decide what to do with this chunk of radio frequency. One things for certain, it’s a potentially expensive question. Some estimates say that if sold, the entire analog television spectrum could go for as much as $20 Billion dollars.

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