There is new potential for innovation and financial success after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)) approved Spectrum Bridge’s television white spaces database system.

With this move, service from the system is expected to be offered on or after Jan. 26, 2012, according to a FCC statement.

In addition, the FCC okayed a device from Koos Technical Services (KTS), which is believed to be the first device “allowed to operate on an unlicensed basis on unused frequencies in the TV bands,” The FCC added. The KTS device will be used with the Spectrum Bridge (News - Alert) TV database. 

“With today’s approval of the first TV white spaces database and device, we are taking an important step towards enabling a new wave of wireless innovation,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (News - Alert) said in a recent press release. “Unleashing white spaces spectrum has the potential to exceed even the many billions of dollars in economic benefit from Wi-Fi, the last significant release of unlicensed spectrum, and drive private investment and job creation.”

White space is the unused spectrum found between TV stations, the FCC explains. It can be used for broadband services, and could be targeted to research and commercial applications, the FCC added.

With the new approvals, the FCC predicts that service can be provided over greater ranges than the ranges associated with Wi-Fi devices, which operate on high frequencies, the FCC said.

At first, operations using the new service are restricted to the Wilmington, NC, region. It is expected to expand to the entire nation at a later date.

In other recent company news, Spectrum Bridge is collaborating with Carlson Wireless (News - Alert) in demonstration of that company’s new RuralConnect IP Version II, according to a report on TMCnet. Wireless Internet Service Providers have ordered the first 1,000 units of RuralConnect IP Version II, TMCnet added.