Harold Furchgott-Roth on mmWave and Economics in Policy Making

In this podcast, Furchgott-Roth discusses the book, his roles in Congress and at the FCC, the current controversy over 5G mmWave interference, and the role of the World Radio Conference in setting standards for spectrum use around the world. 

July 16, 2019 0

ICYMI: Remarks at Annual Phoenix Center Rooftop Policy Roundtable – Is Privacy Policy the Next Mattress Tag?

What we don’t need is something akin to the government’s mattress tag requirements – a bewildering agreement users blindly accept without understanding its purpose.

June 24, 2019 0

Underestimating Rural Broadband Coverage

Is it justifiable to misrepresent the facts (to lie, actually) in order provoke a legislative reaction that improves rural life?

June 22, 2019 0

Behind the Curve: EFF’s Long Strange Trip

Perhaps the time has come to tell EFF what Barlow told lawmakers in 1996: “On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone.” The future of networking is intermodal competition between networks and services that control their destinies.

June 12, 2019 0

The Consequences of Russian Misinformation

Conspiracy nuts are drawn into an irrational world where normal behavior is to do irrational things. Conspiracy theories undermine confidence in institutions and conspiratorial reasoning also undermines institutions in their own right. We need to break out of this cycle. 

May 17, 2019 0

Huawei in a White Box: Podcast

While first-wave 5G small cells will rely on specialized switches, the second wave will use generic hardware and open source software. When the second wave hits the streets, the fears about the Chinese government taking over an import part of the telecom sector will become moot. 

May 9, 2019 0

Putting Huawei in a (White) Box

There are issues that warrant special attention in the networking standards bodies (3GPP and IETF in particular) but this is nothing new. If the government can get off its Huawei kick and support OCP we’ll all be better off in the long run.

May 1, 2019 0

House Set to Aggravate Internet Problems

The only reason for Congress to turn the clock back to 2015 is to enjoy the comfort of a well-worn path. This is cowardly and counter-productive; the rank and file should say “no” and demand a more serious approach to Internet regulation from their party leadership.

March 26, 2019 0

You Don’t Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows: Delaying Spectrum Auctions

Satellite-based systems are also vertical on nature, while 5G is a horizontal, land-based system. So it appears that a political constituency has asked for an unnecessary delay in order to protect itself from the consequences of 5G. 

March 19, 2019 0

To Nationalize or Not; and What About the Trade Commission?

The 5G buildout is hampered on some areas by extortionate rents on small cell sites. These fees are driven the need of some municipalities – such as San Jose, California – to raise money for pension costs. While we’re sympathetic to retirees, there are ways to meet these needs without wrecking the technology sector. 

March 6, 2019 0