Semi-OT: America's bad call
We're way behind others when it comes to Web phones
….American carriers are eager to build out 3G, and Congress is eager to get hold of the billions that will be paid for the licenses. But the Federal Communications Commission has had to postpone the auctions twice–this month's auction has been put off until next March–because of the disproportionate power exercised by the television broadcasters lobby, a group that members of Congress always treat with solicitous care. Some 138 broadcasters happen to have rights to channels 60 to 69, and they have been given their moving notices by the government as part of the transition to digital television. Those channels also occupy the spectrum that carriers need for 3G. Seeing an opportunity to reap a windfall before they have to move anyhow, these station owners are demanding that they separately be paid billions to vacate early. No one in the government has been willing to invoke the Radio Act of 1927, which clearly provides for reassignment of spectrum to "promote public convenience or interest." Continued reruns of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman instead of deployment this decade of a 2-megabit-per-second 3G wireless network? This is not a case study of policy setting in Washington at its finest hour.
usnews.com
Hut, two, three, four, wireless biz is at war
We have met the enemy, and it's the cellphone
….Washington regulators are now trying to find a slice of spectrum for third-generation cellphones. These so-called 3G devices are touted as powerful enough to carry streaming video and fast enough to juice E-commerce. However, the Air Force and Navy use that bit of spectrum to fly their satellites and NASA uses it to control the space shuttle. "We simply do not have enough spectrum to give everyone all that they want," FCC official Thomas Sugrue told Congress in July. The military has already given up large portions of spectrum since 1993; in November, a federal agency will report on whether it needs to make more room for the 3G devices. …
usnews.com
FWIW, Jim |
