Bascom Hunter, LSU embark on a wireless venture

Bascom Hunter and LSU have entered into a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop the next generation of wireless communication technology. The Baton Rouge firm will give LSU $31,000 to match a $169,000 grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents to find new ways of linking Louisiana universities in areas of research that promise quick economic returns. Bascom Hunter and LSU are focusing on making unused radio spectrum bands available to more wireless users. “Radio spectrum is very valuable, and innovative approaches to increase its availability will lead to tremendous business opportunities,” says Bascom Hunter President Andrew McCandless. Dr. Shuangqing Wei, an assistant professor who is working on the project, says it will “promote our national competitiveness in wireless communications.”