Wireless Internet Reviews Blog » White Spaces

4G technology will extend beyond phones, laptops

Joe — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:00:30 +0000

As it currently stands, 3G wireless services are used mainly on two devices: cell phones and laptops (including netbooks). This is mainly due to limitations of 3G networks. Yes, they can cover large areas, but they’re limited in speed and capacity. This has led to a number of restrictions on their usage — companies limit both the types of devices which can connect to the network and the consumption levels of end users, usually capping them at 5GB per month. That could all change with more widespread 4G technology.

While it’s exciting to think about how a 4G network can power your camera, your ebook reader, or even your car, it’s even more exciting to think about how this will change pricing schemes. As Sprint president of network operations Steve Elfman notes, “You’re used to paying full price” for gadgets like digital cameras. If cell phone companies can no longer tie you to their network with a subsidized handset, the opportunities for connectivity can grow.

(And if AT&T can prove price fixing in the LCD screen industry, we could see a drop in handset pricing, too.)

It’s still easiest to think of 4G as having better coverage and faster speeds for laptop data, but it can be so much more than that. With higher capacity networks that run faster, developers can hook all kinds of devices up to the Internet. It will create a new level of connectivity that could spark even further innovation.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

4G technology will extend beyond phones, laptops

Broadcasters sue FCC over white spaces

Joe — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:17:41 +0000

We’ve talked a bit about white spaces before. They’re essentially the slices of spectrum between broadcast channels. Tapped properly, they can provide valuable wireless Internet services. Best of all, by using them we’re using a resource we simply did not before. It’s like the Native Americans using every bit of the buffalo they slew. Yet not everyone is happy with this plan, which could bring cheap and effective broadband to millions. The National Association of Broadcasters and the Association for Maximum Service Television have sued the FCC over their November 2008 decision to use white spaces.

As broadcasters have been arguing since the issue of white spaces first came to light, they think that it will cause harmful interference on their spectrums. To date, I’ve yet to see a study which supports their position. In fact, the FCC issued a report last year which showed that white spaces can be utilized, with the proper equipment, without interfering with broadcast channels. Yet the broadcasters continue their crusade.

This is obviously an emotional play. Celebrities like Dolly Parton have denounced white space usage, saying that wireless microphones are essential to their live performances. That’s certainly true, but it completely misses the point. The idea is that white spaces will be tapped with devices which will not interfere with Ms. Parton’s microphones. That argument, however, is mostly ignored. Why? Because the NAB and MSTV don’t want to adapt to new technologies. After all, businesses run better as monopolies.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

Broadcasters sue FCC over white spaces

Canada to consider using white spaces

Joe — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:55:05 +0000

We’ve seen the debate on white spaces unfold in the U.S. Google brought the concept to national prominence, and a number of fellow tech companies — namely Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Phillips Electronics — came out in support of it. This was, of course, much to the chagrin of cellular operators, who only see it as eating into their lucrative data services. The concept may spread past the U.S. soon, as Canada will consider adopting the technology when it switches to digital TV in 2011.

Why white spaces? The real question is, where to start? First off, there are no wires, so there’s no need to build out vast infrastructure. This opens up the competition. If there were a need to build out towers and other delivery methods, competition would be limited to those with gobs of cash and credit. No infrastructure means less overhead, which means more companies can form and compete, which hopefully means lower prices and more choices for consumers. That’s what our supposed “free market” is all about, right?

Second, it will make best use of existing resources. If these white spaces do not cause harmful interference, and recent studies show that they don’t, then why not take advantage of them? If there is an unused portion that can provide benefit to a population, then it sound crazy not to use it. It’s like Native Americans who hunted buffalo. They used all of the buffalo and wasted as little of it as possible. Same concept with digital TV and white spaces.

“Our founder, Larry Page, calls it Wi-Fi on steroids,” said Jacob Glick, Canada policy counsel for Google Inc., which has been one of the most vocal supporters for white spaces. “For the average person, there will be many more choices on where, how, and how much you pay for your broadband Internet connection.”

It sounds good to me. Hopefully it sounds good to Canada, too.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

Canada to consider using white spaces

FCC cancels meeting re: free Internet

Joe — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:06:24 +0000

So we know the FCC is considering a plan to auction off what are termed white spaces in a proposed plan to provide free broadband access across the country. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who has fallen under some criticism in recent times, favors the plan, while lame duck President George Bush opposes it. The commission was set to meet this week to vote on the issue, but on Friday Martin canceled it. Lawmakers had put pressure on him to do so.

“We received the letter from Senator Rockefeller and Congressman Waxman today and spoke with other offices,” said FCC Spokesman Robert Kenny. “In light of the letter, it does not appear that there is consensus to move forward and the agenda meeting has been canceled.”

Once we hit the break, though, the matter will likely roll over into the next administration. What happens at that point is anyone’s guess.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

FCC cancels meeting re: free Internet

President Bush opposes free national mobile broadband

Joe — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:19:06 +0000

Thankfully, his term ends in just over a month. That, however, will not stop President Bush from voicing his displeasure with the free broadband Internet plan currently under consideration at the FCC. Why? I think the linked Chattahbox article has it right: It’s along the lines of the executive’s free-market principles. Which at this point is a bunch of baloney. Free market advocates don’t hand out $700 billion to failing industries.

The quote, from a letter written by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez: “This mandate would likely lead to congested and inefficiently used broadband.” Yet there is no elaboration. It’s like saying we shouldn’t build highways because it will lead to congested roadways. In other words, it’s a terrible argument without a hint of rational thought — or at least no rational thought on display.

At certain points in his letter, Secretary Gutierrez betrays his ignorance of the alternatives to free wireless broadband. He says “… a government-mandated free nationwide network is not the most effective or efficient way to assist underserved areas,” but exactly the opposite is true. There’s a reason that no private company has opened up service to rural residents in some areas of the country: the potential revenue from those customers doesn’t offset the cost of the infrastructure they’d need to build.

I think that hits it pretty much on the head. The FCC will discuss this on December 18.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

President Bush opposes free national mobile broadband

FCC chair wants to offer porn-free Internet

Joe — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:55:05 +0000

Despite being a lame duck FCC chairman, Kevin Martin still wants to get something done with free wireless Internet. His Commission met for December, and they’re looking to push a wireless broadband program that would provide free service to anyone who wants it. Sounds killer. The catch, of course, is that it would contain a filter that would sift out porn and other material not suitable for children. But that’s a small price to pay for free service, right? Plus, the Commission has proposed a workaround that would allow adults to access all the smutty material they desire.

The process will begin with an auction to determine who controls the spectrum. A quarter of those winnings would go towards the free service, while the rest the winning company could use for a faster premium service — one that would not require a child filter. Adults can also opt out of the filter on the free service, if I’m reading the article correctly.

The wireless industry clearly doesn’t want this to happen. They have their own mobile broadband services, which would be in direct competition with a free service. As we learned yesterday, carriers could continue seeing mobile broadband growth despite the state of the economy. This could throw a wrench in those forecasts.

Still, for the greater good this sounds like a good deal. They’ll have to work out the kinks, of course, and they’ll have to find a company willing to bid on the spectrum. If that falls into place, though, we could be surfing the Web for free before we know it.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

FCC chair wants to offer porn-free Internet

FCC approves white space plan

Joe — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:47:14 +0000

This week marks a significant moment in wireless broadband. The FCC has voted unanimously to use the free spaces within the TV frequencies for mobile broadband services. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the plan will move forward with anything resembling speed. Instead, it is expected that a number of lawsuits will hamper the measure. T-Mobile is among the companies not thrilled with the FCC’s decision. Dolly Parton is going to throw a fit.

“The FCC has taken a significant step to usher in a new era of technology allowing for major investments in innovative wireless broadband, education, and government/enterprise applications to spur economic development,” Motorola Co-CEO and President Greg Brown said in a press release. The move will “make broadband access, as well as other communication services, available to millions of underserved Americans.”

There is no word on the FCC’s specific plans with the unused spectrum. I guess they’re waiting to get a grasp on how many lawsuits they’ll face.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

FCC approves white space plan

Dolly Parton recruited to take down white spaces proposal

Joe — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:51:29 +0000

It appears as though broadcasters are getting serious in their opposition of white spaces, the frequencies between the frequencies which companies like Google believe can provide free broadband Internet to the masses. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin seems to agree, as he’s been talking about the benefits of white spaces for a few months now. However, don’t expect the broadcasters to down without a fight. Country singer Dolly Parton has come out against white spaces, lending her “expertise” to the matter.

“With my extensive background in the entertainment industry, I can unequivocally confirm that the importance of clear, consistent wireless microphone broadcasts simply cannot be overstated,” Parton said in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, which is scheduled to vote on the issue Nov. 4. “This industry relies on wireless technology and is in jeopardy of being irreversibly devastated by the Commission’s pending decision.”

Yes, because I’m sure Parton read through the entire 400-page report that discussed the results of tests on white space. I try not to inject too much opinion in these pieces, since I’m no expert myself, but this simply makes Parton look foolish. She has no idea of the true implications. She’s merely repeating anti-white space rhetoric. Her argument should have zero weight — zero — in the final decision.

(The lesson, as always: stick to what you’re good at.)

Even if the white spaces did have some impact on wireless microphones, a few members of Congress note how it really shouldn’t matter.

Supporters of the plan are also lining up. On Monday, a group of six Congress members urged the FCC to approve the plan. “The broadband potential offered by the white spaces remains too great an opportunity for there to be any further delay in concluding the proceeding and allocating the spectrum for unlicensed broadband uses,” the elected officials wrote. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Rogers (R-Wis.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) signed the letter.

See, broadband brings knowledge to the masses. The Internet is rife with free data, free information, free education. Whereas Parton’s mic provides a distraction from every day life. I think I can say without hesitation which is more important.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

Dolly Parton recruited to take down white spaces proposal

FCC chair supports using white spaces for mobile broadband

Joe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:55:57 +0000

It’s a good day for those interested in wireless Internet. Since the end of the 700 MHz spectrum auction earlier this year, Google has been petitioning the FCC to examine the power of white spaces, those airwaves between licensed spectrum, for public use. Many telecoms have disputed the usefulness of white spaces, saying that they will cause interference with licensed spectrum. The FCC plans to release a report in early November on the subject, though chairman Kevin Martin gave us a glimpse into his thinking yesterday:

He said he is “hoping to take advantage of utilizing these airwaves for broadband services to allow for unlicensed technologies and new innovations in that space.” Martin has been a long-time proponent of unlicensed use of white spaces, but these latest comments could indicate that interference issues examined in the report have been addressed.

The unquoted text comes from Olga Kharif of Business Week.

Google wants these white spaces to remain unlicensed, and thus can be used by the public as a way to connect to the Internet. Telecoms, clearly, want to have control over the spectrum so that they can extract every last dollar from consumers’ pockets. Kharif thinks, though, that there’s a 50-50 chance of Google getting its way. If so, it would be a major victory for mobile broadband usage.

This post originated at: WirelessInternetReviews.com - The premiere resource for information on mobile broadband providers like Cricket Wireless.

FCC chair supports using white spaces for mobile broadband