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To: Keith Hankin who wrote (7)	1/21/1998 2:03:00 AM
From: Bernard Levy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 36

Keith: I apologize for barging in, but broadband wireless services in the 28GHz or 38GHz bands have far more promise than you seem to assume. One month from now, the FCC will auction 1.3GHz worth of bandwidth for LMDS (local multipoint distribution service) in the 28GHz band. The only operating LMDS operator, CVUS, is offering wireless Internet connection in Manhattan with a system which allows a theoretical speed of 48Mb/sec. LMDS allows two-way wireless connections. CVUS is still using a telco return, but another LMDS operator, called JATO, is about to roll out a two-way experimental system in Denver in the 28GHz band, targeted at businesses. WCII, which operates in the 38GHz band, appears also ready to roll out a broadband wireless data service. It has currently at its disposition about 400MHz of bandwidth, which is more than enough for fast Internet connections with a significantly smaller infrastructure cost than required by cable. Later this year or next year, the FCC will also auction a large chunk of spectrum in the 39GHz band. It is also worth noting that LMDS affords the opportunity to bundle telephony/data (Internet)/and video on demand (including wireless cable tV) in one service. I expect that the LMDS license for the San Francisco area (which covers the entire Bay area) will be extremely attractive, and that the LMDS operator for this area will be able to provide a service which will provide some real competition to @Home. The bottom line hear is that there are actually 3 technologies for broadband residential access: a) cable, b) x-DSL, and c) wireless. I think that over the long run, x-DSL will only be a transitional technology, and that the true competition is cable versus wireless.

To: Keith Hankin who wrote (7)	1/21/1998 9:00:00 AM
From: ftth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 36

[RF-ISM band] ISM is an acronym for Industrial-Scientific-Medical and consists of unlicensed spectrum (meaning you don't need a license to broadcast in the band providing you meet FCC rules for output power, modulation technique)at 902-928 MHz (mainly cordless phones and intercom), and 2.400-2.4835 GHz (mainly wireless LAN's--see IEEE802.11 standard for more info), and 5.725-5.870 GHz (mainly wireless LANs). Each has its pro's and con's. For more info, search for: wireless LAN, ISM wireless, IEEE802.11. I would disagree that wireless will only be a small niche player. 10MB wireless LAN's operating in the 2.4G and 5.7G bands exist today, and it's a matter of creating demand to drive the costs down. Right now there are HUGE profit margins in these products, so costs are high. If the cost reductions don't happen, these folks missed the boat in my opinion. Many people either don't want or can't have a cable infrastructure retrofitted to their homes, and the wireless option is very attractive. Also, you said: <<Control will be done via wireless NCs, including mini-NCs that will function much like today's remote control devices although with mini-displays for status readout.I believe that if you really understand NCs, you will realize that this is the future, and it has big consequences with regard to understanding the way in which LANs are going>> First, I definitely don't understand the big attraction w/ NC's, but haven't really given them that close a look. Hey, you can't follow everything, and for whatver reason, the topic hasn't interested me. By all means, give us your "NC pitch"--convince us. Second, please explain your scenario for NC's as the "command and control" center. It seems like that would be immense overkill for conveying control sequences to turn down the volume, change the channel, etc. Also, please define a mini-NC, i.e. what's in it. thanks, dh