Licensed and Unlicensed Spectrum Set-Top Box

A method for providing media content to a plurality of set-top boxes over a licensed spectrum and over an unlicensed spectrum, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first set-top box (“STB”) of a plurality of STBs, a first portion of media content from a remote terminal located at a service provider, said first STB being located at a first customer premises of one or more customer premises, each of the plurality of STBs comprising a first transceiver configured to receive media content over the licensed spectrum and a second transceiver configured to send and receive media content over the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the first STB receives the first portion of media content over the licensed spectrum using the first transceiver of the first STB;
• receiving, by the first STB, a second portion of the media content from a second STB of the plurality of STBs, wherein the first STB receives the second portion of media content using the second transceiver of the first STB over the unlicensed spectrum, and wherein the second STB receives the second portion of media content from the remote terminal over the licensed spectrum, and transmits the second portion of media content to the second transceiver of the first STB using the second transceiver of the second STB over the unlicensed spectrum.

A licensed and unlicensed spectrum set-top box, comprising:

• a first transceiver configured to receive media content over a licensed spectrum;
• and
• a second transceiver configured to receive media content over an unlicensed spectrum.

The licensed and unlicensed spectrum set-top box of claim 19, further comprising:

• a memory on which is stored a table of available bandwidth of a neighboring plurality of set-top boxes (“STBs”),
• wherein the available bandwidth comprises at least one of available frequency bandwidth, available network bandwidth, available data bandwidth, or available digital bandwidth.