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IP: Forbes (Karlgaard) article
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 06:36:45 -0500
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>[Note: This item comes from reader Jim Forster. I like Karlgaard's use of the 'ocean' as a metaphor for 'open spectrum'. I've been using a western 'open range' metaphor myself, with the cattle representing the radios. I just might like this 'ocean' metaphor better! <g> In any case, it looks like Rich has been drinking the right Kool-Aid! DLH]At 17:35 -0800 1/22/02, Jim Forster wrote:From: "Jim Forster" <forster () cisco com> To: "Dewayne Hendricks" <dewayne () dandin com> Subject: Forbes (Karlgaard) article Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:35:15 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Hi Dewayne, Pretty interesting column by Rich Karlgaard. <http://www.forbes.com/technology/forbes/2002/0121/031.html?_requestid=5734> (registration required). Conclusion: "The answer is cheap wireless. But here, once more, we bow to Washington policymakers. The U.S. government makes available too little wireless spectrum for what could turn out to be tomorrow's fastest-growing industry: wireless Web networks. Could turn out to be? Look how fast WiFi has grown with its tiny slice. The Federal Communications Commission needs to jettison its outdated view of spectrum rights. Today's blazing fast chips make it possible for messages--whether e-mail, voice or video--to zigzag through wide swaths of spectrum without bumping into anyone else's message. Chip technology permitting this miracle gets doubly good every 18 months. Which means our FCC's laws--which treat spectrum as a sort of real estate, complete with CCRs and fences--get doubly moronic every year and a half. The appropriate metaphor for spectrum in the 21st century is the ocean, not real estate. Boats make one guarantee--to avoid one another--then the ocean is pretty much theirs to use. Similarly, e-mail, voice and video should be free to travel the entire sweep of God's airwaves. Only one law need apply: Don't interfere. Memo to Michael Powell: Here's your chance to become the most famous FCC chairman in history and rescue the American economy in one bold stroke."
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