Obama And FCC - Test of Will on AWS-3

Generally one would think the new Obama administration will be more consumer friendly and as a Democratic apparatus, the new administration would be looking out for the little guy like Dave the Mobile Warrior.  In particular, I think President Obama would be more supportive of net neutrality and likely to support a national wireless network being pushed by the FCC.


I suppose we'll know the answer once we find out if Obama's FCC folks will allow the AWS-3 bandwidth to be put back on FCC's agenda for a vote after numerous lawmakers were ordered by their cronies to pressure the FCC chairman into putting off the vote.


So, we'll know in the next few months who the new administration is looking out for.  National interest or the interest of entrenched wireless providers.  


Just a reminder, the AWS-3 is 25Mhz of bandwidth that requires the winner to allocate part of the bandwidth for a free national network.  However, T-Mobile is protesting the move because it claim it would interfere with its own network.  I have to applaud FCC chairman Kevin Martin for going ahead with this until he was forced to put off the December 18th vote.


Martin is leaving so he's not going to force the issue.  Let the next guy deal with it.  And it'll be Obama's guy.


Other Onxo posts on this issue:

• AWS-3 Saga Continues
• Mobile providers wants to continue "stewardship".
  
• M2Z wants bring you free broadband.
• Wireless access like healthcare debate.

Subsidized Laptops Come To The US

Want a netbook for $99?  For that and $60 a month for two years, Radio Shack, Acer, and ATT will offer you an Acer Aspire One with 3G access.  Not bad considering.

Onxo had said this was coming because it made sense and if you live in Britain, such deals has already been available for a while now. 

Now, this isn't cheap.  It's a hefty amount over the lifetime of the contract.  However, this is not meant for the average mobile warrior like you or me.  However for someone like Dave the Mobile Warrior who works in a professional web and programming development and needs access at any time and any where, it makes sense.  Again, it's for folks who need it.

But I'll make another prediction.  This rate will come down over time in 2009.  We don't have a lot of these types of bundles at this time.  Look for the other wireless providers in the US to follow in 2009.  Even look for additional tethering rates.  Then look for these rates to be challenged as WiMax become more ubiquitous (Sprint, I live in CA - waiting for you still).

It's going to be an exciting 2009.  Beyond that, how we'll just have to wait and see.  But I would not be surprised see these netbooks offered for free.  So, with AWS-3 and white spaces potentially coming online in 2010, things are looking up for mobile users.

 Source:  Engadget

Note:  Now, if ATT would just get up and offer the new Macbooks, I'll totally sign up.

Related Onxo Posts:

• Another company offers netbooks with 3G access (this time in India)
• EEE PC offered with 3G in Euro zone
• 3G Modem Growth Set To Explode
• Should Apple offer wireless access option to Macbooks?

FCC Free Broadband Vote on Dec 18th

First white spaces and now maybe AWS-3.  If you recall, we've dicsussed the importance of the coming vote on AWS-3 because of the mandate that the winner of the auction would be required to allocate part of the bandwidth to provide for a free national broadband access.

This has been the brainchild of the outgoing FCC chairman Kevin Martin.  It was first proposed back in 2006 and on December 18th, it may become reality if the outcome by the FCC is in our favor.  This has gotten Dave the mobile warrior very excited. So excited in fact, he had to send me a remind in the form of an USA Today article.

And we all should be excited.  Forget the fact that it's free broadband access.  It means millions of Americans who do not have or cannot afford) fast access to the Internet and the vast treasure of information will now be able to get onto the information superhighway that many of us have taken for granted.  Education, jobs, competitions.  Free flow of information to even more people.

Be sure to stay tuned for the results and the impacts.  I'll say this now.  The future impact should the FCC do the right thing will mean a great deal to the future generations.

I also want to say this issue has not made everyone happy, particular T-Mobile (read here for reasons why) and telecoms in general who are in the market for profit.  At the end of the day, it is about profit, not about subsidies.  I don't care for subsidies.  But it is about parity, and that is important.

Via USA Today

Related Onxo Links on this matter:

• AWS-3 Saga Continues
• M2Z wants bring you free broadband.
• Wireless access like healthcare debate.

White Spaces - What It Means for Mobile Warriors

Yesterday, Onxo talked about FCC's decision to open up white spaces for wireless broadband access.  You're asking:  what does it matter?  It is just another wireless network like 3G and EDGE.  Also, like Wi-Fi.  Well, here is the fantastic news.

• Another option.  Will no longer beholden to wireless providers with ancient biz practices.
• Accessibility.  Convenience.  Innovation.  Whether you live in the cities or rural parts of the country, you will have an option for wireless connectivity.  It will also for wireless providers to compete in areas where they don't deem worthy of providing access to.  
• In the beginning, not even lower prices but over time with competition, we may be looking at White spaces services competing with 3G, LTE, and WiMax.  
• In due time, we will also see competition with the devices that support the different segments of the wireless market.  
• In due time, we will also see devices that let mobile warriors access one network to another without having to buy a brand new network card or mobile device.
  

PC Mag did a nice article about white spaces and I suggest you head over and read about it.  Just so you know how fast this is moving, Dell has already indicated it will add wireless receivers to future laptops that will be able to access wireless Internet through white spaces services.  HP, Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, and Google are among the lead proponents of white spaces.

White spaces is everywhere.  And that is what so cool about it.

• We already know it does video.  We can see greater and faster video communication.
• Use it like you use your Wi-Fi now.  In fact, you already know this but the fact that it can go through walls will make it one of the better wireless network deployments.  
• If you are out in the middle of nowhere, you may be able to set up a wireless hub that uses white spaces.
• Though not initially as cheap as DSL, it's competitive to those of wireless broadband for 3G.  However, costs may go down if there is an ad supported business model.  You don't think Google is doing this out of the kind of its own heart do you?  It's a corporation, and by nature, it has no heart.  
• 50-mile radius per access point.  How far does your current Wi-Fi network go now?

So, when can we expect this new magic?  According the PC Magazine, demo on 2009 and finished products in 2010.  

Links:

• Wireless Innovation Alliance
• TG Daily
• PC Magazine
• Washington Post
• Onxo - FCC endorses white spaces
• Onxo - Model for expanded Wi-Fi coverage
• Onxo discusses mobility for political junkies
• AWS-3 Saga Continues

White Spaces Approved: Next Step

You may know by now that a smaller kind of history was made on November 4th.  The FCC voted to approve use of white spaces for wireless broadband use over heavy lobby by oppononents who usually have a lot of clout with the FCC and Congress.

Not to be deterred, the commissioners unanimously approved the unused air waves for mobile use.  The plans for its use can start after Feb 2009 when analog TV signals end, with only digital signals roaming about.

This is fantastic.  If anyone who reads this blog knows, I'm for competition and giving wireless providers less control and stimulating innovations.  Not just technologies but ideas as well.  So, what are the impacts of such a move?

I'll be back later today to talk about that.  Meanwhile, know this.  This is truly "change" mobile warriors can believe it.

Link:

• Washington Post
• Onxo - FCC endorses white spaces
• Onxo - Model for expanded Wi-Fi coverage
• Onxo discusses mobility for political junkies
• AWS-3 Saga Continues

Onxo Update For the Week

I was all over the place this week.  Just like me.  I like that.  The week started with G1's arrival at my backdoor and, seemingly, about to end with my time playing on my MacWind.

Also this week, we touched on wireless providers, Android, iPhone (of course), and a couple of tips to help mobile warriors stretch their hard-earned dollar.

Mobile Issues:

• iPhone's effect on innovation, market dynamics, and revenues for everyone.
  
• Mobile Savings - 25-30% savings by using live.com and ebay
• Economic relief for T-Mobile users
• Tough times may lead to great deals this Holidays.
• Netflix and telecoms winners in economic crunch.
• Living from a mobile device.
• AWS-3 update
• Wireless providers needs a Christmas Carol moment.
• Sprint's WiMax needs Android
• Data from Wired is goodness for telecommuting
• No open-source for RIM

Mobile Devices on Onxo:

• October or November surprises for gadget lovers?
• Indian telecom offers netbooks with wireless broadband.
• New Benchmarks from Macworld for the new Macbooks
• Apple's netbook won't be a netbook.
• Nvidia's 9400M rocks! 

FCC Endorses White Space

Motorola, Philips, Google, and Microsoft.  What do they have in common?  Correctly.  Microsoft and Google, together.  Sort of.

White space, of course!  FCC are just on a roll here, trying hard to get on my good side.  First the AWS-3 spectrum for national broadband service and now white space, the unused TV channel airwaves.

Supporters, according to Yahoo Reuters, are happy with FCC's report backing the use of white spaces for devices that would have limited interference.  Monisha Ghosh (cool name) of Philips believes devices could be out within a year.

Could 2009 be the year of Androids?  Sure, why not?  But I digress.

Don't think this will go down smoothly, my friends.  Just like AWS-3 for M2Z, broadcasters, wireless providers, and others with a turf to protect in the wireless realm are likely to fight this to the bitter end.  On Nov 4, FCC will be voting on this just as Americans (those registered to vote) will be voting for a new President.

Onxo will be watching this one for you.  Stay tuned.  Get excited, it's okay.  This is huge!

Source:  Yahoo News