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

Questions for Witnesses in Tomorrow’s Net Neutrality Hearing

Net neutrality was created at a time when the only large firms conducting Internet business were ISPs. It was sensible for lawmakers to focus on ISPs in 2003. But today’s Internet is dominated by non-ISP edge services that routinely abuse personal information. Internet law need to leap forward to the present day.

February 6, 2019 0

Enough Raw Meat Internet Policy, Congress!

The task for Congress is simple and straightforward: it needs to prioritize the issues that plague the Internet today in order to prevent them from getting worse.

January 31, 2019 0

Books, Books, and more Books!

If you’re a fan of books on tech and tech policy this is a particularly good time for you because so much new stuff is hot off the presses. Here’s a short list of the books in my reading queue at the moment, along with a couple of longish journal articles.

January 23, 2019 0

Sharing Federal Spectrum by Contract

Applications that can’t be supported by LTE and its progeny probably can be supported by a small number of alternative technologies that have commercial applications. So sharing by contract should be the default mode.

December 6, 2018 0