Recent Blog Posts of Interest

This is a reminder that I post my policy-related work at The Innovation Files, the blog of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Here are some recent IF posts A…

April 2, 2012 1

The 700 MHz Device Subsidy Plan

The FCC is considering new rules for mobile devices that operate in the 700 MHz band per a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Promoting Interoperability in the 700 MHz…

March 30, 2012 10

Senator Kohl, Competition, and Public Knowledge

Last week, I posted a note about forthcoming hearings under the auspices of the Senator Herb Kohl’s Anti-Trust Subcommittee regarding Verizon wireless’s new cross-marketing deal with a group of cable…

March 9, 2012 0

Low Versus High Radio Spectrum

Lower frequencies do offer advantages, but my view is that these advantages are often overstated. Most usage of mobile broadband networks will occur within higher population densities in which networks will have to be designed for capacity rather than coverage. In these scenarios, low and high frequencies offer almost equivalent performance.

March 5, 2012 10

Experimental Radio Applications at the FCC

This summarizes a selection from 215 applications for the Experimental Radio Service received by the FCC during October, November, and December 2011. These are related to AM broadcasting, FM broadcasting,…

February 8, 2012 0

Spectrum Reality, Part 2

In my last post, I promised to follow up on the 700 MHz band’s unique properties, so here you go. The background fact about spectrum is that opportunistic spectrum access…

February 1, 2012 0

Spectrum Reality

Now that a detente of sorts has been reached with Congressional efforts to muzzle some of the most egregious criminal sites on the Internet, attention came resume on some of…

January 16, 2012 3

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace

Last May and June, BBC aired a three part documentary by Adam Curtis on how computers are reshaping society called “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace.” The title…

January 4, 2012 2

Discussion Thread: Does DNS Filtering Break the Internet?

There’s a lot of controversy about the DNS filtering mandate proposed in two bills moving in the U. S. Congress,  PROTECT-IP Act (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA.) This…

December 22, 2011 12

SOPA Hearing DNS Filtering Discussion

The House Judiciary Hearing on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) held on Thursday, December 15 was certainly one of the longest hearings in recent memory, as well as one…

December 16, 2011 5