Forced spectrum communcation was a way of forcing viewscreen communications, even though the receiving party did not open their visual channels. As Data opined, though, its results were "spotty at best"; extremely poor visual quality was often the result.

William Riker once ordered forced spectrum communication with a Pakled transport during the negotiations to return Geordi La Forge to the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")