First White Spaces Network Brings Broadband Internet to Rural America over Unused TV Broadcast Airwaves

Industry Leaders, Including Dell, Microsoft, Spectrum Bridge and the TDF
Foundation, Join to Improve Education, Economic Opportunity and Quality of Life
for Claudville, Va. Residents
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
For the first time in the U.S., unused TV broadcast channels freed up by the
transition to digital TV are being used to wirelessly deliver high-speed
Internet connectivity to business, education and community users. These unused
frequencies are commonly referred to as TV white spaces. Under an experimental
license granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Spectrum Bridge
designed and deployed a wireless TV white spaces network to distribute broadband
Internet connectivity in Claudville, Virginia. To ensure that Claudville
residents can make the most of this new high-speed connectivity, Dell, Microsoft
and the TDF Foundation contributed state-of-the-art computer systems and
software applications to the local school, as well as the town`s new computer
center. As a result, Claudville residents have already begun to reap the
benefits of joining the online community.

"Earlier this year, Jonathan Large, a member of the Patrick County Board of
Supervisors, testified before the Subcommittee I chair about the need for
broadband service in rural communities like Claudville," said Congressman Rick
Boucher, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the
Internet. "I am pleased that Spectrum Bridge, Dell, Microsoft and the TDF
Foundation are presenting an innovative and promising solution by providing
high-speed Internet services to the residents of Claudville through white space
technology. I hope that Claudville will become a model for delivering broadband
services to more rural communities in a cost-effective manner in the future."

TV white spaces are vacant channels in the television band and are ideal for
sending broadband signals across long distances and for penetrating walls, trees
and other objects. These TV white spaces hold enormous potential for expanding
broadband access, particularly in rural and other underserved areas.

"Our students and teachers did not have access to computers or broadband
connectivity until now," said Jerry Whitlow, administrator of Trinity Christian
School. "The advantages these new technologies bring to our classrooms will be
numerous, including expanded research and information resources, greater
understanding of important world events and access to new distance learning
opportunities."

The TV white spaces network is providing the "middle mile" link between the
wired backhaul and the WiFi hot spot networks deployed in Claudville`s business
area as well as the school. The same network is also providing last mile
broadband connectivity directly to end users.

Roger Hayden, Director of Claudville Computer Center and Chairman of the Patrick
County Broadband Task Force said, "We have been working for many years to help
the people of Claudville get high-speed data services that urban areas take for
granted. The citizens here are directly benefiting from the digital dividend
created by availability of TV white spaces frequencies. Being able to leverage a
TV white spaces network that covers Claudville`s residential, business and the
surrounding areas is a major step towards meeting this goal."

Signals delivered over TV white spaces can cover large areas and are unlicensed
in keeping with a November 2008 FCC decision, so device-makers and network
operators using TV white spaces frequencies take precautions to prevent
interference with licensed television broadcasts. To ensure that the use of TV
white spaces in Claudville does not cause interference with local TV signals,
the network is controlled by Spectrum Bridge`s intelligent TV white spaces
database system. This database assigns non-interfering frequencies to white
spaces devices, and can adapt in real time to new TV broadcasts, as well as to
other protected TV band users operating in the area.

"Due to its availability and range, TV white spaces have proved to be a very
cost-effective way to distribute high-speed Internet in this heavily forested
and hilly rural community," said Peter Stanforth, CTO of Spectrum Bridge. "The
non-line of sight conditions, coupled with long distances between radios, would
have posed significant challenges to existing unlicensed alternatives. TV white
spaces could prove to be invaluable to those striving to bring broadband access
to underserved and unserved rural communities."

TV white spaces hold promise for other rural communities in Virginia and
throughout the country, as well as underserved areas, such as some inner cities.
The rapid adoption of TV white spaces rules will allow industry to respond to
government initiatives that seek increased broadband penetration on the state
and national levels.

"Thanks to innovative leaders such as Dell, Microsoft, Spectrum Bridge and the
TDF Foundation, Virginia students in every corner of the Commonwealth have a
chance at a 21st century learning experience," said Governor Timothy M. Kaine.
"Broadband access in particular has the potential to dramatically improve
quality of life for our citizens while ensuring our students have the tools they
need to succeed. My thanks to Congressman Boucher for his continued leadership
and commitment to advancing the lives of the citizens of Southwest Virginia."

To discover what white spaces channels are available in your area, the Web site
ShowMyWhiteSpace.com offers a free search tool that lists all open white spaces
channels at any address in the U.S. This site also contains white spaces news
and information, as well as links to FCC documents and other valuable white
spaces resources.

About Spectrum Bridge Inc.

Spectrum Bridge is making wireless spectrum more available, accessible and
productive for everyone as part of its Universal Spectrum Access solutions.
Named to Fierce Wireless` Fierce 15 as one of "the most innovative and smart
emerging companies in the wireless industry," the company is privately held and
headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. For more information, contact us at (866)
598-7426 or visit SpectrumBridge.com.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology
and services they need and value. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential.

About TDF

TDF is a Washington DC-based venture capital fund dedicated to building
industry-leading companies that solve important problems in the Communications
sector. TDF established the TDF Foundation to focus on bringing broadband access
and computing technology to low-income and unserved communities where it will
have a meaningful impact and where results are measurable.

Fusion PR
Bennie Sham, 212-651-4219
bennie.sham@fusionpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009