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Walter Watts
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Onerous New Law to Phase Out Wi-Fi
« on: 2008-04-01 15:35:47 » |
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Onerous New Law to Phase Out Wi-Fi
ARTICLE DATE: 04.01.08
By John C. Dvorak
I was certainly surprised when CNBC called me this morning, asking if I could go on the air for a few minutes with Erin Burnett to discuss the announced phase-out of public Wi-Fi (802.11x) in all its forms, including the emerging 802.11n. The congressional bills were passed this morning, apparently with little or no public debate.
This is not good news. The only possible positive here is that the ban on Wi-Fi will not begin until January 2012, but in the meantime most of the available public spectrum—including the unlicensed 2.3-GHz to 2.9-GHz spectrum—is scheduled to be auctioned off long before 2012. Anyone caught using unlicensed devices will be subject to "a fine not to exceed $100,000 and indeterminate jail time not to exceed five years."
The so-called Telecommunications Restructuring Act of 2008 was passed almost unanimously as a joint resolution based on SB 40108 and HR 17996-1. Essentially the free unlicensed spectrum is going to be auctioned off starting with the 2.3-GHz to 2.9-GHz frequencies, followed by the spectrum around 5 GHz and elsewhere.
The authors of the Senate bill, Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), sent out a joint press announcement explaining the rationale as part of a modernization process that will no longer sanction unlicensed frequencies due to interference issues and market confusion.
The two guys from the House who cosponsored the bill were Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Dennis Hastert (R-IL). Hastert was on the CNBC show with me and two other telecom "analysts."
Hastert actually said that the days of an unlicensed telecom "free-for-all" were over if for no other reason than that the spectrum was too valuable. When the Wi-Fi commentary began, he actually had the gall to say that the public was better served by the wireless phone companies and—get this—"V-DO." He was corrected by the Pricewaterhouse analyst, who told him it was EV-DO, and you got the sense that Hastert thought it had something to do with video, hence his calling it V-DO. Cripes.
I didn't get to say much as the show went into analyzing how a portfolio would be affected and whether Atheros or Broadcom stock would fall. It was mentioned in passing that ham radio operators will be further restricted, and the frequencies available to them will be very limited and perhaps will be sold off eventually, too. It should be fun to watch their reactions.
The other analyst was actually a guy from Comcast who explained that even though the frequencies will be auctioned off within the next fiscal year, Wi-Fi users—including Comcast—will be able to buy a license that will be good until the 2012 Wi-Fi shutdown date. In other words, you'll now have to pay what amounts to a tax to use your home or office network. The fee has not been determined. But apparently you'll have to put a license code into your SSID, and there will be serious enforcement of licensing restrictions by means of roving government vans with antennas on them to check on users.
What shocked me more than anything is the ridiculous license that will now be required for 2.3-GHz microwave ovens. Again, no fee was finalized, but most people are guessing that it will be $10 a month for what is called a "potential interference fee." The authorities admit that they cannot force current owners of microwave ovens to pay a fee, but it appears that anyone caught with an unlicensed oven will be subject to a hefty fine. In other words, do not let the police into your home if you want to shirk the fee.
Very few people voted against the joint resolution, with the nays coming from Ron Paul (R-TX) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate. These are strange bedfellows indeed. None of the current presidential candidates took part in the vote, probably seeing it as a political hot potato.
Now it's up to the President to sign the bill. It's only too obvious to me that the big mobile phone carriers were behind this whole thing, and that means Bush will rubber-stamp it. All I can do is recommend that you go to the links below and take action.
Action you can take.
The details about the new law.
How to stop the law.
What you need to know.
Copyright (c) 2008Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Walter Watts
Tulsa Network Solutions, Inc.
No one gets to see the Wizard! Not nobody! Not no how!
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Hermit
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Re:Onerous New Law to Phase Out Wi-Fi
« Reply #1 on: 2008-04-02 09:26:31 » |
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We know that:- the Congress critters have been working harder than usual for their funders the last 7 years, but it isn't possible for them to deal with more than 9999 bills per session. So both the Senate and House bill numbers are "strange."
- http://thomas.loc.gov/ doesn't know about these bills - which means they do not exist.
- After turning the wrong page, Hastert resigned in November 2007.
- Radio frequencies are managed by International agreement, and thus congress does not have the power to alter bandwidth allocations.
- "It should be fun to watch their reactions." - But he doesn't speak about the IT industry's reaction - perhaps because he knows that more than a few will look things up before flying off half-cocked.
- "the nays coming from Ron Paul (R-TX) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate. These are strange bedfellows indeed." - From their voting record they frequently reject the same non-constitutional legislation.
- Microwave ovens forsooth! That would be $120 per year from most households in the US all 120 million of them or so. Or a new $12 billion dollars in taxes. In an election year? No way.
- If this had any substance to it, it would be all over the news. Not a JC Dvorak exclusive. And he wouldn't be reporting, he would be exploding.
- Most compelling reason to ignore this "story", the date.
Happy April 1st.
Kindest Regards
Hermit
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With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
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Walter Watts
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Just when I thought I was out-they pull me back in
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Re:Onerous New Law to Phase Out Wi-Fi
« Reply #2 on: 2008-04-02 10:40:25 » |
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Quote from: Hermit on 2008-04-02 09:26:31
We know that:- the Congress critters have been working harder than usual for their funders the last 7 years, but it isn't possible for them to deal with more than 9999 bills per session. So both the Senate and House bill numbers are "strange."
- http://thomas.loc.gov/ doesn't know about these bills - which means they do not exist.
- After turning the wrong page, Hastert resigned in November 2007.
- Radio frequencies are managed by International agreement, and thus congress does not have the power to alter bandwidth allocations.
- "It should be fun to watch their reactions." - But he doesn't speak about the IT industry's reaction - perhaps because he knows that more than a few will look things up before flying off half-cocked.
- "the nays coming from Ron Paul (R-TX) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate. These are strange bedfellows indeed." - From their voting record they frequently reject the same non-constitutional legislation.
- Microwave ovens forsooth! That would be $120 per year from most households in the US all 120 million of them or so. Or a new $12 billion dollars in taxes. In an election year? No way.
- If this had any substance to it, it would be all over the news. Not a JC Dvorak exclusive. And he wouldn't be reporting, he would be exploding.
- Most compelling reason to ignore this "story", the date.
Happy April 1st.
Kindest Regards
Hermit
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Congratulations Hermit!
You're the only one that got the April Fools.
Good job!
Walter
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Walter Watts
Tulsa Network Solutions, Inc.
No one gets to see the Wizard! Not nobody! Not no how!
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Fritz
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Re:Onerous New Law to Phase Out Wi-Fi
« Reply #3 on: 2008-04-02 15:37:02 » |
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With a solid/honest name like Walter, I took it at face value and drifted it off to our network/security crew who have been vengeful at trying in vain to rid our halls of employment of Wi-Fi.
They are ecstatic and rejoicing as we speech.
I have not sent them the follow up .... they are just too happy I can't be the one to burst the bubble.
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?page_id=16912
Ya' got me, but the secondary fun (if just dumb luck on my part) was worth it.
Cheers
Fritz
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Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
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