Whitespace Project
Demonstrates how integrating the near universal compatibility of Wi-Fi with the range and penetrating capabilities of TV White Space (TVWS) equipment can increase availability and convenience of library Wi-Fi access at new fixed / portable community hotspots.
The Pilot began in 2013 as an early stage national trial involving libraries in six states. As of 2015, the initiative has grown into an open global collaboration project.
Currently, the 10’s of millions of people in the U.S. who rely solely or in part on public libraries to provide broadband access must be in or just beside one of 16,000+ facilities.
TV White Space has advantages both in a range measured in 100’s and even 1,000’s of meters and in its ability to connect through walls, trees and other obstructions. And like Wi-Fi, TVWS (sometimes called Super Wi-Fi) uses unlicensed radio spectrum in the UHF TV bands, open and available to anyone with certified equipment to use with no fees, carriers or other permissions required.
“The technology was easy to set up; works extremely well and requires little support. It just runs day in and day out. We typically have over 200 associations a day and move an average of 2.5 GB of data a day over the network. It has been transformational for our little town” -John Gavan of Delta County, CO Public Library.
International
Since 2014 the Pilot has sought participation by library consortia anywhere in the world to explore the potential of TVWS/Wi-Fi networks to play a role in providing first time access to the over 4 billion people without internet connections.
“Who better and more trusted than the world’s 320,000 libraries, as intermediate end points in telecom infrastructure buildout, to act as test lab and access point in communities everywhere. The impact of this in America and the rest of the world is incalculable! The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance completely supports this proposal.” H Nwana, Executive Director and fmr. head of spectrum at UK regulator Ofcom.
Unused TV spectrum offers libraries potential for rural broadband
Internet Society Blog
Library Journal
Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries
Library Journal
CivSource
Telecompetitor
"SecondNet: Libraries Using TV WhiteSpace to Increase Community Resilience and Expand Patron Access."
IFLA IT Section Newsletter
Libraries and other community anchors are invited to join the Whitespace Project to install, support or analyze TVWS/WiFi networks as part of a new national assessment to evaluate capabilities to widen public library Wi-Fi availability and for potential as a new disaster readiness resource.
Project Affiliates
- International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
- Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA)
- Internet Society (ISOC)
- Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA)
- OTI/ New America Foundation
- Partnership for Public Access (P4PA)
- WhiteSpace Alliance
Supporting Organizations
- Adaptrum Inc.
- Wireless ISP Association-WISPA
- Institute for Infocomm Research
- (I2R) -Singapore
- Turku University of Applied Sciences -Finland
- Power Automation – Singapore
- Open Technology Institute / New American Foundation– Microsoft– WhiteSpace Alliance– Internet2– Internet Archive– Public Knowledge
- Fiber Tower– CTC Networks
