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US Running out of Spectrum by 2014

October 23, 2010 by Elias Shams 2 Comments

Thanks again to Steve Jobs and his iPhone, we are running out of spectrum.

The latest report by FCC shows we’ve been increasingly checking our email, surfing the Net and watching video on our mobile devices. This explains the rise on usage of mobile data and the demand for them which is just about to exceed the capacity of available wireless networks.

If it wasn’t because of the iPhone like type of smartphones, I don’t think we would have gone crazy with our phones like we are today.

“If we don’t act to update our spectrum policies for the 21st century, we’re going to run into a wall — a spectrum crunch — that will stifle American innovation and economic growth.” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The National Broadband Plan recommends that the FCC make available 500 MHz of new spectrum for wireless broadband within 10 years, including 300 MHz within five years. Read more of this post

Filed under Wireless Tagged with 500 MHz, Cell-site growth, device type, Economic impact, FCC, FCC Chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, National Broadband Plan, Running out of Spectrum, spectrum, wireless broadband

FCC Opens up “white-spaces” spectrum for “Super Wi-Fi”

September 24, 2010 by Elias Shams Leave a comment

The FCC voted unanimously to allow the use of unutilized broadcast spectrum TV white spaces to open up the way for “super Wi-Fi” wireless broadband networks, but set aside two channels nationwide for wireless microphones.

The spectrum in question was freed up through the nation’s transition from analog to digital television broadcasting in June 2009.

The agency also directed the Office of Engineering and Technology to develop a database that will include information on wireless microphone venues. The agency has given experimental licenses to several cities and seen how the spectrum could be used for telemedicine, connecting larger school campuses, machine-to-machine communications and smart cities applications, said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. However, beyond super Wi-Fi, the most innovative services could be on the horizon, he noted. Read more of this post

Filed under Wireless Tagged with FCC, FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, Office of Engineering and Technology, public safety administration landline-based 911, spectrum, Super Wi-Fi, TV white spaces, White Spaces, wi-fi, wireless 911, wireless broadband networks, wireless microphones

The Good The Bad and The Ugly Of The National Broadband Plan

March 26, 2010 by Elias Shams 18 Comments

I am half way through the 376-page National Broadband Plan document that FCC submitted to The Congress a few weeks ago, and I already, sense that we will be watching the 21th century version of the classic 1966 movie – The Good The Bad And The Ugly soon. To enjoy reading the post, you may want to play the clip below as you scroll down. There is no need to watch the video, as it is only the sound track