The FCC is going to auction the 700 Mhz range of the broadband spectrum. Naturally, one of the big telecoms will probably be the winner. But John Edwards wrote an open letter to the FCC chairman with a bold and admirable idea.

I have my misgivings and doubts about Edwards, but this definitely scores with me. I believe net neutrality is incredibly important. Of course, the FCC has been a corporate lap dog for years now and I don't expect this even to make a ripple. But I'm glad to see he's paying attention to this and has a plan.

(Christ, please tell me this isn't a kerble. I've been King Kerble but I think I finally wrapped my brain around that damn search function.)

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Dear Chairman Martin:

The upcoming 700 megahertz spectrum auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the next generation of American technology.

In recent years, the Internet has grown to touch everything and transform much of what it touches. It's not the answer to everything, but it can powerfully accelerate the best of America. It improves our democracy by making quiet voices loud, improves our economy by making small markets big, and improves opportunity by making unlikely dreams possible.

As you know, the Federal Communications Commission is now preparing to auction the 700 megahertz slice of the spectrum. This "beachfront" band is particularly well suited to wireless broadband because it has wide coverage and can easily pass through walls.

By setting bid and service rules that unleash the potential of smaller new entrants, you can transform information opportunity for people across America -- rural and urban, wealthy and not. As much as half of the spectrum should be set aside for wholesalers who can lease access to smaller start-ups, which has the potential to improve service to rural and underserved areas. Additionally, anyone winning rights to this valuable public resource should be required not to discriminate among data and services and to allow any device to be attached to their service. Finally, bidding should be anonymous to avoid collusion and retaliatory bids.

I urge you to seize this chance to transform the Internet and the future.

Sincerely,

John Edwards

i don't understand what this means

I guess it's the thought that counts, but it ain't gonna happen.

kenoki, the FCC is auctioning off a slice of the airwaves being vacated by television broadcasters. It's an important range of frequencies because it can be used by broadband wireless providers. Edwards is recommending that, instead of just letting a huge telecom gobble up all or most of it, a big portion should be set aside for wholesalers who can then lease it to smaller entrepeneurs. These companies, serving smaller and more targeted areas, would be able to reach rural and other underserved areas with broadband cable access, narrowing the "information gap" for people who live there. It would also help preserve the neutrality of the internet by putting less of the spectrum upon which its signals will increasingly ride in the hand of a relative few corporations (think about media consolidation and the effect it has had on the range of news reporting).

Oh, and according to kevin, I guess he's going to have a talk with Marconi while he's at it.

Colonel Panic wrote:I guess it's the thought that counts, but it ain't gonna happen.

Sadly, I agree with you. But this really made an impression. Are any of the other candidates even thinking about this kind of stuff, let alone voicing strong visions on it? It's all global warming and national security, ad nauseaum.

Ty Webb wrote:Oh, and according to kevin, I guess he's going to have a talk with Marconi while he's at it.

i don't think THAT john edwards is smart enough to figure this kind of stuff out on his own...he would've certainly needed help.

So true.

"I'm sensing a.....do you know a Nicky? No? Nicholas? Nikolai? Nikolai! Yes, it's definitely Nikolai!"

The FCC is so used to kowtowing to the big media conglomerates and telecom companies, they'd never do anything like that.

As an example, there've been issues about the technology of BPL (broadband over power lines, a.k.a. "PLC", or "Power Line Communication") which is now being implemented in certain areas. This technology has proven to be a nuisance on the radio spectrum, causing severe interference over many bands due to harmonic propagation. The broadband signal is sent using oscillations at RF frequencies, and the long power lines essentially act as huge antennas, emitting loads of RF pollution into the surrounding area.

Even though they've been petitioned by tens of thousands of private amateur radio operators and small rural radio stations, the FCC has decided to allow the providers to implement this flawed technology. Even worse, they've also placed the responsibility of monitoring RF emissions on the providers as well, pretty much giving them carte blanche to pollute the airwaves as much as they want until the FCC starts receiving loads of complaints and/or lawsuits start flying.

Whenever there's a choice to be made between the financial interests of big business and the best interests of the community, business always wins out.