STTR Phase II: Reconfigurable Wireless Platforms for Spectrally Agile Coexistence

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will involve research on and development of a reconfigurable wireless platform enabling broadband communications in rural areas via secondary access of television white spaces (TVWS) spectrum. The recently ratified IEEE standard, 802.22, is the most promising technique proposed for TVWS operation. Unfortunately, current 802.22 implementations create unacceptable levels of out-of-band (OOB) emissions, greatly degrading the performance of both primary and secondary TVWS users. Current designs also fail to sense the presence of other TVWS users as necessary for coexistence. Such limitations have prevented the rollout of 802.22 solutions. The proposed work overcomes these limitations, leading to a low-cost, high throughput, and robust implementation for the 802.22 wireless regional area network (WRAN). Phase II laboratory and field testing will validate the viability of Phase II developed 802.22 WRAN prototype devices for rural broadband deployment. The activities described in this proposal will significantly advance the community?s understanding of methods to make cognitive radio networks such as 802.22 practical and effective in offering broadband services in rural areas. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project centers on offering a low-cost broadband solution to the 14.5 million Americans who live in rural areas currently beyond the reach of broadband access, while appealing to those in rural areas that have broadband access but are unable to afford the high equipment and service costs of current solutions. Rural communities with broadband access have lower unemployment, higher per capita earnings, and greater educational opportunity. Broadband improves rural area healthcare effectiveness while lowering cost. Public safety, emergency service, and first responder communities also call for high data-rate communications to better predict and respond to natural disasters.