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In Florida, a Cell Phone Network With No Need For a Spectrum License
holy_calamity writes "Technology Review reports on a cell phone network in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, like no other. Instead of paying to reserve a section of wireless spectrum its owner, xG Technology, uses cognitive radios that steer signals through the unlicensed 900MHz band more normally used by cordless phones and baby monitors. The radios in both handset and base station scan for gaps left by other devices in that band and make dynamic connections that constantly hop frequencies to ensure a good link. The network is designed to show off the tech, which the company says could be used in conventional cellphones to access extra spectrum or white spaces devices."
A recent study by University of California-Berkeley academics revealed how the density of TV stations in metropolitan areas could reduce the availability of white spaces in such areas.
That's true. The "whitespace" idea only works in rural regions, not heavily-populated areas like the North, northeast, or mid-atlantic which use every channel from 1-51 (including the FM band).
There are more than 51 channels, there are 68 (2-69).