[Advisors] Re: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] FW: [governance] US: FCC proposes large public WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take sides
James Van Leeuwen
jvl at ventus.ca
Tue, 5 Feb 2013 02:16:43 -0700
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Michael,
I think if our federal government or regulator had the mind, the means =
and the moxie to threaten our telecom industry like the FCC is =
threatening the U.S. industry, they would have conceived and given birth =
to a healthy digital strategy years ago.
My sense is that the government just wants to be perceived as conceiving =
something, because sadly, most Canadians will settle for this.
No rousing hue and cry over the lack of a digital strategy, despite =
years of government promises... relatively few Canadians seem to care.
I expect only more gnashing and baring of gums by our captive and =
toothless regulator, as it licks aggressively at the dark and monolithic =
edifices of our telecom industry.
I expect only more praise from our federal government for the industry's =
grand Potemkin Village, which we know by the name Facilities-Based =
Competition.
Meanwhile in Australia...
=
http://www.buddeblog.com.au/frompaulsdesk/csiros-push-to-assist-in-the-dig=
ital-transformation-of-australia
The simple truth is that our telecom industry will continue dictating =
the digital non-agenda as long as we (the people) continue tolerating =
its abuse of market power.
This self-abusive tolerance has now become a topic of open curiosity and =
derision outside of Canada.
Most of our Boomers and seniors seem to have little meaningful grasp of =
the key issues, or the interest to learn.=20
Younger Canadians might have a better grasp of the issues, but few are =
willing to take substantive action.=20
Most are "waiting on the world to change" (lyrics from a popular Jon =
Mayer song), which can be taken to mean "waiting for our leaders to =
lead".
Unlikely, when our 'leaders' are so utterly consumed with the =
tribulations of our oil and gas industry (these will only get worse with =
time, pipelines or not).=20
We have no end of risk management and crisis management in industry and =
government, and little that actually resembles meaningful leadership for =
the 21st century.=20
Hardly surprising, given that we have no meaningful vision for ourselves =
and no longer take ourselves seriously as a nation.
We get the governments and industries we deserve.
Rogers and Shaw are at least positioning to (sort of) bring to Canada =
what the FCC wants to see in the U.S.
They have the advantage of much greater bandwidth at the terminal nodes =
of their cable networks than Telus or Bell with their twisted-pair =
loops.
It seems like a sound strategy, given that the bulk of data traffic to =
and from mobile platforms already travels over WiFi connections.
Except for one thing.
A more palatable grass roots solution is growing in Canada, in the form =
of communities deploying free WiFi access as a de facto public utility.
This trend is accelerating as more communities come to recognize the =
value of free, reliable and capable WiFi access to community and =
economic development.
To quote Mayor Brad Woodside of Fredericton,
"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you =
for broadband?"
Communities and merchants that do not share this philosophy put =
themselves at growing risk.
There are food service and other merchants in my community who would =
charge me to use their WiFi, and I tell them as bluntly as I can that =
they are driving me into the arms of their competitors.
Every community and every enterprise in Canada must now compete for =
business and talent in a global arena, and we don't get to set the terms =
of competition.
Over a year ago, I listened to a young social entrepreneur lament how =
expensive and inferior wireless access is here in Canada compared to the =
communities she had recently worked in... over in Tanzania.
Wait until she visits an Aboriginal community in Canada.
Increasingly, the community/municipal WiFi trend in Canada involves =
regional collaboration, with multiple communities in a handful of =
regions offering free WiFi access through shared networks.
Here in southwest Alberta, we have free and effortless WiFi connectivity =
in a dozen small communities through SWConnect, a public WiFi network =
established by our regional economic development alliance.
http://albertasouthwest.com/wi-fi_hotspots=20
(zoom out to see the hotspot locations)
The service footprint presently comprises only one or two hotspots in =
each community, but the footprint is steadily expanding (more =
communities with more hotspots in each).=20
All of my devices are configured to connect automatically when I enter =
any of these hotspots, which I occasionally use while out and about to =
check email and make Skype calls.
I expect the free community/muni WiFi trend here in Alberta to reach an =
inflection point in as little as two years.
A few years after that, most communities and high-traffic merchants in =
the province will be offering free WiFi as a matter of competitive =
necessity.
Regional collaboration will no longer offer any strategic advantage, so =
the next logical step will be province-wide collaboration.=20
=46rom there we can move on to nationwide collaboration and then perhaps =
world domination, at least in the global competition for talent.=20
Imagine a Canada with free and ample WiFi connectivity in all developed =
areas, and never having to change network connection settings depending =
where you are.=20
Just like our nationwide open road network.=20
Wherever you are, start your car and drive.=20
If we channel our attention and resources into fostering leadership, =
initiative and investment at the community level, Canada could have free =
nationwide WiFi long before the U.S. does.
Regardless of how fast the trend grows, aggregated demand for access =
bandwidth (wired and wireless) will grow to include hundreds and =
eventually thousands of communities.
Imagine community/municipal interests wresting market power from the =
hands of our telecom industry, and (gasp) political power from the hands =
of senior government.=20
As a matter of necessity, communities must be given the responsibility =
and authority to build and manage digital streets and sidewalks.
Here are a few recent stories to drive home the point.
=
http://muninetworks.org/content/franklin-municipal-fibernet-spurs-economic=
-development-serves-government-kentucky
=
http://muninetworks.org/content/how-muni-network-dalles-led-600-million-da=
ta-center
=
http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/O-Net_is_open_for_business_189050541.h=
tml
There is much to look forward to, SuperWiFi or not.
The key is to focus more on community, and less on government and =
industry.=20
JvL
On 2013-02-04, at 1:50 PM, "michael gurstein" <gurstein@gmail.com> =
wrote:
> 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
>=20
> Tech, telecom giants take sides as FCC proposes large public WiFi =
networks
>=20
> By Cecilia Kang, 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.
>=20
> 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, =
Microsoft 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, the free networks would still take several =
years to set up. And, with no one actively managing them, con=C2=ADnection=
s 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.
>=20
> =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=
>=20
> The major wireless carriers own much more spectrum than what is being =
proposed for public WiFi, making their networks more robust, experts =
say.
>=20
> Designed by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, 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.
>=20
> =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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> 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&T, =
T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Intel and Qualcomm, in a letter to the FCC =
staff late last month, that the government should focus its attention on =
selling the airwaves to businesses.
>=20
> Some of these companies also cautioned that a free WiFi service could =
interfere with existing cellular networks and television broadcasts.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> =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
>=20
> Cisco and other telecommunications equipment firms told the FCC that =
it needs to test the airwaves more for potential interference.
>=20
> =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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> =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.
>=20
> =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
> =20
>=20
> =20
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"><div>Michael,</div><div><br></div><div>I think if our federal =
government or regulator had the mind, the means and the moxie to =
threaten our telecom industry like the FCC is threatening the U.S. =
industry, they would have conceived and given birth to a healthy digital =
strategy years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>My sense is that the =
government just wants to be <i>perceived</i> as =
conceiving something, because sadly, most Canadians will settle for =
this.</div><div><br></div><div>No rousing hue and cry over the lack of a =
digital strategy, despite years of government promises... relatively few =
Canadians seem to care.</div><div><br></div><div>I expect only more =
gnashing and baring of gums by our captive and toothless regulator, as =
it licks aggressively at the dark and monolithic edifices of =
our telecom industry.</div><div><br></div><div>I expect only more praise =
from our federal government for the industry's grand Potemkin =
Village, which we know by the name Facilities-Based =
Competition.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile in =
Australia...</div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://www.buddeblog.com.au/frompaulsdesk/csiros-push-to-assist-in=
-the-digital-transformation-of-australia">http://www.buddeblog.com.au/from=
paulsdesk/csiros-push-to-assist-in-the-digital-transformation-of-australia=
</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The simple truth is that =
our telecom industry will continue dictating the digital non-agenda as =
long as we (the people) continue tolerating its abuse of market =
power.</div><div><br></div><div>This self-abusive tolerance has now =
become a topic of open curiosity and derision outside of =
Canada.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of our Boomers and seniors seem to =
have little meaningful grasp of the key issues, or the interest to =
learn. </div><div><br></div><div>Younger Canadians might have a =
better grasp of the issues, but few are willing to take substantive =
action. </div><div><br></div><div>Most are "waiting on the world to =
change" (lyrics from a popular Jon Mayer song), which can be taken to =
mean "waiting for our leaders to =
lead".</div><div><br></div><div>Unlikely, when our 'leaders' are so =
utterly consumed with the tribulations of our oil and gas industry =
(these will only get worse with time, pipelines or =
not). </div><div><br></div><div>We have no end of risk management =
and crisis management in industry and government, and little that =
actually resembles meaningful leadership for the 21st =
century. </div><div><br></div><div>Hardly surprising, given that we =
have no meaningful vision for ourselves and no longer take ourselves =
seriously as a nation.</div><div><br></div><div>We get the governments =
and industries we =
deserve.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rogers =
and Shaw are at least positioning to (sort of) bring to Canada =
what the FCC wants to see in the U.S.</div><div><br></div><div>They have =
the advantage of much greater bandwidth at the terminal nodes of their =
cable networks than Telus or Bell with their twisted-pair =
loops.</div><div><br></div><div>It seems like a sound strategy, given =
that the bulk of data traffic to and from mobile platforms already =
travels over WiFi connections.</div><div><br></div><div>Except for one =
thing.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>A more palatable grass =
roots solution is growing in Canada, in the form of =
communities deploying free WiFi access as a de facto public =
utility.</div><div><br></div><div><div>This trend is accelerating as =
more communities come to recognize the value of free, reliable and =
capable WiFi access to community and economic =
development.</div><div><br></div><div>To quote Mayor Brad Woodside of =
Fredericton,</div><div><br></div><div><b><i style=3D"font-size: 13px; =
">"We don't charge you to walk on our sidewalks. Why would we charge you =
for =
broadband?"</i></b></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Communities =
and merchants that do not share this philosophy put themselves at =
growing risk.</div><div><br></div><div>There are food service and other =
merchants in my community who would charge me to use their WiFi, =
and I tell them as bluntly as I can that they are driving me into =
the arms of their competitors.</div><div><br></div><div>Every community =
and every enterprise in Canada must now compete for business and =
talent in a <i>global</i> arena, and we don't get to set the terms =
of competition.</div><div><br></div><div>Over a year ago, I listened to =
a young social entrepreneur lament how expensive and inferior wireless =
access is here in Canada compared to the communities she had recently =
worked in... over in Tanzania.</div><div><br></div><div>Wait until she =
visits an Aboriginal community in =
Canada.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Increasingly, the =
community/municipal WiFi trend in Canada involves regional =
collaboration, with multiple communities in a handful of regions =
offering free WiFi access through shared =
networks.</div><div><br></div><div>Here in southwest Alberta, we have =
free and effortless WiFi connectivity in a dozen small communities =
through SWConnect, a public WiFi network established by our regional =
economic development alliance.</div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://albertasouthwest.com/wi-fi_hotspots">http://albertasouthwes=
t.com/wi-fi_hotspots</a> </div><div><br></div><div>(zoom out to see =
the hotspot locations)</div><div><br></div><div><div>The service =
footprint presently comprises only one or two hotspots in each =
community, but the footprint is steadily expanding (more communities =
with more hotspots in each). </div><div><br></div><div>All of my =
devices are configured to connect automatically when I enter any of =
these hotspots, which I occasionally use while out and about to check =
email and make Skype =
calls.</div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div>I expect the free =
community/muni WiFi trend here in Alberta to reach an inflection point =
in as little as two years.</div><div><br></div><div>A few years after =
that, most communities and high-traffic merchants in the province will =
be offering free WiFi as a matter of competitive =
necessity.</div><div><br></div><div>Regional collaboration will no =
longer offer any strategic advantage, so the next logical step will =
be province-wide collaboration. </div><div><br></div><div>=46rom =
there we can move on to nationwide collaboration and then perhaps world =
domination, at least in the global competition for =
talent. </div><div><br></div><div>Imagine a Canada with free and =
ample WiFi connectivity in all developed areas, and never having to =
change network connection settings depending where you =
are. </div><div><br></div><div>Just like our nationwide open road =
network. </div><div><br></div><div>Wherever you are, start =
your car and =
drive. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>If we channel =
our attention and resources into fostering leadership, initiative and =
investment at the <b><i>community</i></b> level, Canada could have free =
nationwide WiFi long before the U.S. =
does.</div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Regardless of how fast =
the trend grows, aggregated demand for access bandwidth (wired and =
wireless) will grow to include hundreds and eventually thousands of =
communities.</div><div><br></div><div>Imagine community/municipal =
interests wresting market power from the hands of our telecom industry, =
and (gasp) political power from the hands of senior =
government. </div><div><br></div><div></div></div><div><br></div><div=
>As a matter of necessity, communities must be given the =
responsibility and authority to build and manage digital streets and =
sidewalks.</div><div><br></div><div>Here are a few recent stories to =
drive home the point.</div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://muninetworks.org/content/franklin-municipal-fibernet-spurs-=
economic-development-serves-government-kentucky">http://muninetworks.org/c=
ontent/franklin-municipal-fibernet-spurs-economic-development-serves-gover=
nment-kentucky</a></div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://muninetworks.org/content/how-muni-network-dalles-led-600-mi=
llion-data-center">http://muninetworks.org/content/how-muni-network-dalles=
-led-600-million-data-center</a></div><div><br></div><div><div><a =
href=3D"http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/O-Net_is_open_for_business_189=
050541.html">http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/O-Net_is_open_for_busines=
s_189050541.html</a></div><div><br></div></div><div><div><br></div><div><b=
r></div><div>There is much to look forward to, SuperWiFi or =
not.</div><div><br></div></div><div>The key is to focus more on =
community, and less on government and =
industry. </div><div><br></div><div>JvL</div><div><br></div><div><br>=
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br=
></div><div><br></div><br><div><div>On 2013-02-04, at 1:50 PM, "michael =
gurstein" <<a =
href=3D"mailto:gurstein@gmail.com">gurstein@gmail.com</a>> =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div lang=3D"EN-US" link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"purple" =
style=3D"font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; =
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; =
line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: =
0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; =
"><div class=3D"WordSection1" style=3D"page: WordSection1; "><div =
style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times =
New Roman', serif; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: =
Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">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></div><div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; =
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span =
style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: =
rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div style=3D"margin: 0in 0in =
0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; =
"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; =
color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">M<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style=3D"margin: =
0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, =
sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><table =
class=3D"MsoNormalTable" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" =
cellpadding=3D"0"><tbody><tr><td valign=3D"top" style=3D"padding: 0in; =
"><div id=3D"yiv112606038"><p class=3D"yiv112606038msonormal" =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><b><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); =
">F</span></b><b><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma, =
sans-serif; ">rom:</span></b><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; =
font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org" style=3D"color: =
purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>[<a =
href=3D"mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org" style=3D"color: =
purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">mailto:governance-request@lists.igcaucus.org</a>]<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Riaz K =
Tayob<br><b>Sent:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>Monday, February 04, 2013 =
10:07 AM<br><b>To:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" style=3D"color: purple; =
text-decoration: underline; =
">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>[governance] US: FCC =
proposes large publkic WiFi networks; tech, telecom giants take =
sides</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div id=3D"yiv112606038content"><h1 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 24pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; ">Tech, =
telecom giants take sides as FCC proposes large public WiFi =
networks<o:p></o:p></h1><h3 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; =
font-weight: bold; ">By<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/cecilia-kang/2011/02/28/ABFs9eL_page=
.html" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: =
underline; ">Cecilia Kang</a>,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><span =
class=3D"yiv112606038timestamp">Monday, February 4,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span =
class=3D"yiv112606038time">1:21 AM</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DGOO=
G" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">Google</a>,<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DMSF=
T" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">Microsoft</a><span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">If approved by<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fcc-may-auction-=
tv-airwaves-to-wireless-carriers/2012/09/06/011c8d9a-f86b-11e1-a073-78d054=
95927c_story.html" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; =
text-decoration: underline; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; =
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">=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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Designed by<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/julius-genachowski/gIQAHAht=
9O_topic.html" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; =
text-decoration: underline; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">=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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">That sentiment echoes arguments =
made by companies such as<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DT" =
target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">AT&T</a>, T-Mobile,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DVZ"=
target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">Verizon Wireless</a>,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DINT=
C" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">Intel</a><span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/marketnews/stockdetail/?symbol=3DQCO=
M" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: underline; =
">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; =
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">=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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; "><a =
href=3D"http://washpost.bloomberg.com/market-news/stockdetail?symbol=3DCSC=
O:US" target=3D"_blank" style=3D"color: purple; text-decoration: =
underline; ">Cisco</a><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">=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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; =
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">=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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; =
font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; =
margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', =
serif; ">More public WiFi, they say, will spur the use of =E2=80=9Cmillion=
s 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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">=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 style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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 =
style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; =
font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">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=3D"yiv112606038msonormal" style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; =
margin-bottom: 12pt; "> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p =
class=3D"yiv112606038msonormal" style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: =
0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; =
"> <o:p></o:p></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div =
style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times =
New Roman', serif; "><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: =
Calibri, sans-serif; =
"> </span></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>=
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