<p>MADISON, Wis. West Virginia University advanced the cause of offering expanded broadband access to underserved rural communities with the announcement Tuesday, July 9, that it became the first university in the United States to use low-frequency "white spaces" -- left empty by TV stations that have switched to digital broadcasting -- to provide wireless broadband coverage on the campus and nearby areas.</p><p>The university rolled out the pilot program in partnership with the Advanced Internet Regions consortium (AIR.U), a group of more than 500 higher learning institutions and technology industry partners such as Google and Microsoft.</p><p>The group's initial goal is "to plan and deploy several pilot networks in diverse university communities and create a roadmap for the rapid deployment of sustainable, next-generation wireless networks as White Space equipment becomes widely available in 2013," said the consortium in a statement last year.</p><p>The initial phase of the network provides free public WiFi access for students and faculty on a 73-car tram system that transports some 15,000 riders daily, known as PRT, or Personal Rapid Transit.</p><p><a href="http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1318854">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/09/this-university-uses-empty-tv-channels-to-deliver-super-wifi-for-miles-and-thousands-of-students/">This university uses empty TV channels to deliver &#039;Super Wi-Fi&#039; for miles (and ...</a> (VentureBeat)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dVqReesT6Hj_SmMjnjHEPYwV17ohM&ned=us">4 additional articles.</a></p>