White House unveils plan to free up spectrum for wireless broadband

[babylonsister]

White House unveils plan to free up spectrum for wireless broadband
By Sara Jerome - 06/28/10 02:47 PM ET


President Barack Obama has signed a presidential memorandum committing the government to freeing up 500 MHz of spectrum over the next decade for wireless broadband use, the White House announced on Monday.

The effort mirrors the same goal set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the National Broadband Plan, but adds new details on where and how the spectrum will be found. It also tries to fast-track the FCC's proposals, asking for spectrum sources to be identified by October.

In the White House's most high-profile broadband speech to date, National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers unveiled the initiative at the New America Foundation on Monday.

Calling spectrum "this generation's crucial resource," he warned of a "spectrum crunch" and touted the economic benefit of devoting spectrum to wireless broadband.

"This policy is a win three times over," he said. "It creates prosperity and jobs while at the same time raising revenue for public purposes like public safety and increasing our ability to compete internationally."

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/105941-white-house-unveils-plan-to-free-up-spectrum-for-wireless-broadband

[babylonsister]

1. "...and it didn't even require a single Republican vote. Bravo."

This will raise billions and make our lives more convenient, and it didn't even require a single Republican vote. Bravo.

Getting Stuff Done

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2010/6/28/12625/3596

[GlennWRECK]

2. The internet is the way of the future

I see nothing but positives coming out of this.
Like the poster above me: Bravo!

[babylonsister]

3. I don't understand a lot of what this means, but if it means

getting stuff done without the need for rethugs, I'm all for it!

[Dr Morbius]

4. I suspect a lot of these frequencies are currently being used by wireless microphones.

For example, a wireless microphone I set this morning had a frequency of 583.375 MHz. I set two others in the same frequency range. Perhaps in the next couple of years these frequencies will be taken over by the broadband companies, and the wireless microphone manufacturers will have a more narrow frequency range to use.

The skies above us are crowded with signals. I don't know if people realize this. If you could "see" the frequencies being used by broadband, broadcast, taxis, cellphones, and microphones our cities would be blazing with light. Exactly HOW the government is going to free up this 500 MHz - an enormous span - is something I'd really like to see.

[boppers]

6. A visual:

(Uhm, does anybody know how to shrink links?)

[vaberella]

5. Good stuff. K/R. n/t

[arcadian]

7. Hey Obama You could free up that part of the spectrum that's used for eavesdropping!

There is probably a few 100 Mhz dedicated to that, right?