Google has teamed up with Spectrum Bridge and the Hocking Valley Community Hospital in Logan, Ohio on the deployment of the first TV White Spaces broadband trial network for healthcare providers. The solution enables healthcare providers to utilize affordable broadband while providing data transmission for telemedicine applications.

 "We are pleased to be part of an exciting new technology that can dramatically improve medical and healthcare services to the people of the Logan, Ohio community," said LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, President and CEO of the Hocking Valley Community Hospital.

Google Business Operations Project Manager Larry Alder said, "This is an exciting new deployment that demonstrates the potential of the TV white spaces to improve broadband and spark new applications in healthcare."

The system operates under the control of Spectrum Bridge's TV White Spaces Database, which assigns non-interfering frequencies to white spaces devices. This is to ensure that the TV white spaces network does not cause interference with licensed television broadcasts and other protected TV band users.

The deployment is operating on an experimental white spaces license granted by the FCC. Next Thursday, the FCC will vote on final technical rules governing white spaces. "We're excited that the final rules are up for a vote, and can’t wait to see how entrepreneurs and innovators nationwide will use unlicensed white spaces to introduce cool new products and services," says Alder.