[Advisors] FW: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance] US: FCC proposes large publkic WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take sides
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Mon, 4 Feb 2013 12:50:17 -0800
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This looks very exciting=E2=80=A6 Anybody have any ideas on what if =
anything, might be happening with this kind of thing in Canada=E2=80=A6 =
Off the top I would guess that the telecom people would seriously =
out-influence the tech people in Canada (as per the below) but I could =
be wrong.
=20
M
=20
From: governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org =
[mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Riaz K Tayob
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 10:07 AM
To: governance@lists.igcaucus.org
Subject: [governance] US: FCC proposes large publkic WiFi networks; =
tech, telecom giants take sides
Tech, telecom giants take sides as FCC proposes large public WiFi =
networks
By Cecilia Kang =
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/cecilia-kang/2011/02/28/ABFs9eL_page.html>=
, Monday, February 4, 1:21 AM=20
The federal government wants to create super WiFi networks across the =
nation, so powerful and broad in reach that consumers could use them to =
make calls or surf the Internet without paying a cellphone bill every =
month.
The proposal from the Federal Communications Commission has rattled the =
$178 billion wireless industry, which has launched a fierce lobbying =
effort to persuade policymakers to reconsider the idea, analysts say. =
That has been countered by an equally intense campaign from Google =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DGOOG> , =
Microsoft =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DMSFT> =
and other tech giants who say a free-for-all WiFi service would spark an =
explosion of innovations and devices that would benefit most Americans, =
especially the poor.=20
The airwaves that FCC officials want to hand over to the public would be =
much more powerful than existing WiFi networks that have become common =
in households. They could penetrate thick concrete walls and travel over =
hills and around trees. If all goes as planned, free access to the Web =
would be available in just about every metropolitan area and in many =
rural areas.=20
The new WiFi networks would also have much farther reach, allowing for a =
driverless car to communicate with another vehicle a mile away or a =
patient=E2=80=99s heart monitor to connect to a hospital on the other =
side of town.=20
If approved by the FCC =
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fcc-may-auction-tv-air=
waves-to-wireless-carriers/2012/09/06/011c8d9a-f86b-11e1-a073-78d05495927=
c_story.html> , the free networks would still take several years to set =
up. And, with no one actively managing them, con=C2=ADnections could =
easily become jammed in major cities. But public WiFi could allow many =
consumers to make free calls from their mobile phones via the Internet. =
The frugal-minded could even use the service in their homes, allowing =
them to cut off expensive Internet bills.
=E2=80=9CFor a casual user of the Web, perhaps this could replace =
carrier service,=E2=80=9D said Jeffrey Silva, an analyst at the Medley =
Global Advisors research firm. =E2=80=9CBecause it is more plentiful and =
there is no price tag, it could have a real appeal to some =
people.=E2=80=9D
The major wireless carriers own much more spectrum than what is being =
proposed for public WiFi, making their networks more robust, experts =
say.
Designed by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski =
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/julius-genachowski/gIQAHAht9O_top=
ic.html> , the plan would be a global first. When the U.S. government =
made a limited amount of unlicensed airwaves available in 1985, an =
unexpected explosion in innovation followed. Baby monitors, garage door =
openers and wireless stage microphones were created. Millions of homes =
now run their own wireless networks, connecting tablets, game consoles, =
kitchen appli=C2=ADances and security systems to the Internet.
=E2=80=9CFreeing up unlicensed spectrum is a vibrantly free-market =
approach that offers low barriers to entry to innovators developing the =
technologies of the future and benefits consumers,=E2=80=9D =
Genachow=C2=ADski said in a an e-mailed statement.=20
Some companies and cities are already moving in this direction. Google =
is providing free WiFi to the public in the Chelsea neighborhood of =
Manhattan and parts of Silicon Valley.=20
Cities support the idea because the networks would lower costs for =
schools and businesses or help vacationers easily find tourist spots. =
Consumer advocates note the benefits to the poor, who often cannot =
afford high cellphone and Internet bills.
The proposal would require local television stations and other =
broadcasters to sell a chunk of airwaves to the government that would be =
used for the public WiFi networks. It is not clear whether these =
companies would be willing to do so.
The FCC=E2=80=99s plan is part of a broader strategy to repurpose entire =
swaths of the nation=E2=80=99s airwaves to accomplish a number of goals, =
including bolstering cellular networks and creating a dedicated channel =
for emergency responders.=20
Some Republican lawmakers have criticized Genachowski for his idea of =
creating free WiFi networks, noting that an auction of the airwaves =
would raise billions for the U.S. Treasury.=20
That sentiment echoes arguments made by companies such as AT =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DT> &T, =
T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DVZ> , =
Intel =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DINTC> =
and Qualcomm =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DQCOM> , =
in a letter to the FCC staff late last month, that the government should =
focus its attention on selling the airwaves to businesses.
Some of these companies also cautioned that a free WiFi service could =
interfere with existing cellular networks and television broadcasts.
Intel, whose chips are used in many of the devices that operate on =
cellular networks, fears that the new WiFi service would crowd the =
airwaves. The company said it would rather the FCC use the airwaves from =
television stations to bolster high-speed cellular networks, known as =
4G.
=E2=80=9CWe think that that spectrum would be most useful to the larger =
society and to broadband deployment if it were licensed,=E2=80=9D said =
Peter Pitsch, the executive director of communications for Intel. =
=E2=80=9CAs unlicensed, there would be a disincentive to invest in =
expensive networking equipment and provide users with optimal quality of =
service.=E2=80=9D
Cisco =
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/market-news/stockdetail?symbol=3DCSCO:US> =
and other telecommunications equipment firms told the FCC that it needs =
to test the airwaves more for potential interference.
=E2=80=9CCisco strongly urges the commission to firmly retreat from the =
notion that it can predict, or should predict .=E2=80=89.=E2=80=89. how =
the unlicensed guard bands might be used,=E2=80=9D the networking giant =
wrote.
Supporters of the free-WiFi plan say telecom equipment firms have long =
enjoyed lucrative relationships with cellular carriers and may not want =
to disrupt that model.
An FCC official added that there is little proof so far that the =
spectrum that could be used for public WiFi systems would knock out =
broadcast and 4G wireless signals.
=E2=80=9CWe want our policy to be more end-user-centric and not =
carrier-centric. That=E2=80=99s where there is a difference in =
opinion=E2=80=9D with carriers and their partners, said a senior FCC =
official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proposal is =
still being considered by the five-member panel.=20
The lobbying from the cellular industry motivated longtime rivals Google =
and Microsoft to join forces to support the FCC=E2=80=99s proposal. Both =
companies would benefit from a boom in new devices that could access the =
free WiFi networks.=20
These companies want corporations to multiply the number of computers, =
robots, devices and other machines that are able to connect to the =
Internet, analysts said. They want cars that drive themselves to have =
more robust Internet access.=20
More public WiFi, they say, will spur the use of =E2=80=9Cmillions of =
de=C2=ADvices that will compose the coming Internet of things,=E2=80=9D =
the firms wrote in their comment to the FCC last week.
=E2=80=9CWhat this does for the first time is bring the prospect of =
cheap broadband, but like any proposal it has to get through a political =
process first,=E2=80=9D said Harold Feld, a vice president at the public =
interest group Public Knowledge.=20
More technology stories: Google Fiber provides faster Internet and, =
cities hope, business growth 3-D printers could bring manufacturing to =
your home office Does Apple have an innovation problem?=20
Sign up today to receive #thecircuit, a daily roundup of the latest tech =
policy news from Washington and how it is shaping business, =
entertainment and science.
=C2=A9 The Washington Post Company
=20
=20
=20
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue =
vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>This looks very exciting=E2=80=A6 Anybody have any ideas on what if =
anything, might be happening with this kind of thing in Canada=E2=80=A6 =
Off the top I would guess that the telecom people would seriously =
out-influence the tech people in Canada (as per the below) but I could =
be wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>M<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 =
cellspacing=3D0 cellpadding=3D0><tr><td valign=3Dtop =
style=3D'padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div id=3Dyiv112606038><div><div><p =
class=3Dyiv112606038msonormal><b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D=
'>F</span></b><b><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>rom:</span><=
/b><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> =
<a =
href=3D"mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org">governance-request@=
lists.igcaucus.org</a> [<a =
href=3D"mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org">mailto:governance-r=
equest@lists.igcaucus.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Riaz K =
Tayob<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 04, 2013 10:07 AM<br><b>To:</b> =
<a =
href=3D"mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org">governance@lists.igcaucus.o=
rg</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [governance] US: FCC proposes large publkic =
WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take =
sides</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div id=3Dyiv112606038content><h1>Tech, =
telecom giants take sides as FCC proposes large public WiFi =
networks<o:p></o:p></h1><h3>By <a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/cecilia-kang/2011/02/28/ABFs9eL_pag=
e.html" target=3D"_blank">Cecilia Kang</a>, <span =
class=3Dyiv112606038timestamp>Monday, February 4, </span><span =
class=3Dyiv112606038time>1:21 AM</span> <o:p></o:p></h3><p>The =
federal government wants to create super WiFi networks across the =
nation, so powerful and broad in reach that consumers could use them to =
make calls or surf the Internet without paying a cellphone bill every =
month.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The proposal from the Federal Communications =
Commission has rattled the $178 billion wireless industry, which =
has launched a fierce lobbying effort to persuade policymakers to =
reconsider the idea, analysts say. That has been countered by an equally =
intense campaign from <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DGO=
OG" target=3D"_blank">Google</a>, <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DMS=
FT" target=3D"_blank">Microsoft</a> and other tech giants who say a =
free-for-all WiFi service would spark an explosion of innovations and =
devices that would benefit most Americans, especially the poor. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>The airwaves that FCC officials want to hand over to =
the public would be much more powerful than existing WiFi networks that =
have become common in households. They could penetrate thick concrete =
walls and travel over hills and around trees. If all goes as planned, =
free access to the Web would be available in just about every =
metropolitan area and in many rural areas. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The new =
WiFi networks would also have much farther reach, allowing for a =
driverless car to communicate with another vehicle a mile away or a =
patient=E2=80=99s heart monitor to connect to a hospital on the other =
side of town. <o:p></o:p></p><p>If approved by <a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fcc-may-auction=
-tv-airwaves-to-wireless-carriers/2012/09/06/011c8d9a-f86b-11e1-a073-78d0=
5495927c_story.html" target=3D"_blank">the FCC</a>, the free networks =
would still take several years to set up. And, with no one actively =
managing them, con=C2=ADnections could easily become jammed in major =
cities. But public WiFi could allow many consumers to make free calls =
from their mobile phones via the Internet. The frugal-minded could even =
use the service in their homes, allowing them to cut off expensive =
Internet bills.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CFor a casual user of the Web, =
perhaps this could replace carrier service,=E2=80=9D said Jeffrey Silva, =
an analyst at the Medley Global Advisors research firm. =E2=80=9CBecause =
it is more plentiful and there is no price tag, it could have a real =
appeal to some people.=E2=80=9D<o:p></o:p></p><p>The major wireless =
carriers own much more spectrum than what is being proposed for public =
WiFi, making their networks more robust, experts =
say.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Designed by <a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/julius-genachowski/gIQAHAh=
t9O_topic.html" target=3D"_blank">FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski</a>, =
the plan would be a global first. When the U.S. government made a =
limited amount of unlicensed airwaves available in 1985, an unexpected =
explosion in innovation followed. Baby monitors, garage door openers and =
wireless stage microphones were created. Millions of homes now run their =
own wireless networks, connecting tablets, game consoles, kitchen =
appli=C2=ADances and security systems to the =
Internet.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CFreeing up unlicensed spectrum is a =
vibrantly free-market approach that offers low barriers to entry to =
innovators developing the technologies of the future and benefits =
consumers,=E2=80=9D Genachow=C2=ADski said in a an e-mailed statement. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>Some companies and cities are already moving in this =
direction. Google is providing free WiFi to the public in the Chelsea =
neighborhood of Manhattan and parts of Silicon Valley. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>Cities support the idea because the networks would =
lower costs for schools and businesses or help vacationers easily find =
tourist spots. Consumer advocates note the benefits to the poor, who =
often cannot afford high cellphone and Internet =
bills.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The proposal would require local television =
stations and other broadcasters to sell a chunk of airwaves to the =
government that would be used for the public WiFi networks. It is not =
clear whether these companies would be willing to do =
so.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The FCC=E2=80=99s plan is part of a broader =
strategy to repurpose entire swaths of the nation=E2=80=99s airwaves to =
accomplish a number of goals, including bolstering cellular networks and =
creating a dedicated channel for emergency responders. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>Some Republican lawmakers have criticized Genachowski =
for his idea of creating free WiFi networks, noting that an auction of =
the airwaves would raise billions for the U.S. Treasury. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>That sentiment echoes arguments made by companies such =
as <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DT"=
target=3D"_blank">AT&T</a>, T-Mobile, <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DVZ=
" target=3D"_blank">Verizon Wireless</a>, <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DIN=
TC" target=3D"_blank">Intel</a> and <a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DQC=
OM" target=3D"_blank">Qualcomm</a>, in a letter to the FCC staff late =
last month, that the government should focus its attention on selling =
the airwaves to businesses.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Some of these companies =
also cautioned that a free WiFi service could interfere with existing =
cellular networks and television broadcasts.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Intel, =
whose chips are used in many of the devices that operate on cellular =
networks, fears that the new WiFi service would crowd the airwaves. The =
company said it would rather the FCC use the airwaves from television =
stations to bolster high-speed cellular networks, known as =
4G.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CWe think that that spectrum would be most =
useful to the larger society and to broadband deployment if it were =
licensed,=E2=80=9D said Peter Pitsch, the executive director of =
communications for Intel. =E2=80=9CAs unlicensed, there would be a =
disincentive to invest in expensive networking equipment and provide =
users with optimal quality of service.=E2=80=9D<o:p></o:p></p><p><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/market-news/stockdetail?symbol=3DCS=
CO:US" target=3D"_blank">Cisco</a> and other telecommunications =
equipment firms told the FCC that it needs to test the airwaves more for =
potential interference.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CCisco strongly urges =
the commission to firmly retreat from the notion that it can predict, or =
should predict .=E2=80=89.=E2=80=89. how the unlicensed guard bands =
might be used,=E2=80=9D the networking giant =
wrote.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Supporters of the free-WiFi plan say telecom =
equipment firms have long enjoyed lucrative relationships with cellular =
carriers and may not want to disrupt that model.<o:p></o:p></p><p>An FCC =
official added that there is little proof so far that the spectrum that =
could be used for public WiFi systems would knock out broadcast and 4G =
wireless signals.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CWe want our policy to be =
more end-user-centric and not carrier-centric. That=E2=80=99s where =
there is a difference in opinion=E2=80=9D with carriers and their =
partners, said a senior FCC official who spoke on the condition of =
anonymity because the proposal is still being considered by the =
five-member panel. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The lobbying from the cellular =
industry motivated longtime rivals Google and Microsoft to join forces =
to support the FCC=E2=80=99s proposal. Both companies would benefit from =
a boom in new devices that could access the free WiFi networks. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>These companies want corporations to multiply the =
number of computers, robots, devices and other machines that are able to =
connect to the Internet, analysts said. They want cars that drive =
themselves to have more robust Internet access. <o:p></o:p></p><p>More =
public WiFi, they say, will spur the use of =E2=80=9Cmillions of =
de=C2=ADvices that will compose the coming Internet of things,=E2=80=9D =
the firms wrote in their comment to the FCC last =
week.<o:p></o:p></p><p>=E2=80=9CWhat this does for the first time is =
bring the prospect of cheap broadband, but like any proposal it has to =
get through a political process first,=E2=80=9D said Harold Feld, a vice =
president at the public interest group Public Knowledge. =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>More technology stories: Google Fiber provides faster =
Internet and, cities hope, business growth 3-D printers could bring =
manufacturing to your home office Does Apple have an innovation problem? =
<o:p></o:p></p><p>Sign up today to receive #thecircuit, a daily roundup =
of the latest tech policy news from Washington and how it is shaping =
business, entertainment and science.<br>=C2=A9 The Washington Post =
Company<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=3Dyiv112606038msonormal =
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