The vertical blanking interval ("VBI") of a video signal is used in broadband communications including digital data transmission on the VBI or a dual VBI/PCS system capable of enhancing rapid deployment of wireless VBI communications or PCS services to a remote transceiver where no or marginally profitable infrastructure exists. A wireless digital communication system has a broadcast interface for encoding message information on the VBI of a video signal. The message information is encoded to a VBI format to form a pre-formatted signal. A broadcast device transmits an out-going signal having the pre-formatted signal modulated or otherwise embedded in the VBI. The pre-formatted signal is received from the broadcast interface and is transmitted on a carrier of the out-going signal. At least one transceiver receives the out-going signal and transmits a return signal on the carrier of the out-going signal.