Revolutionary Ideas for Radio Regulation

gummint writes "Radio is becoming more important to the Internet (Wi-Fi, etc.) and to software (software defined radios, under the right conditions, could be very important). Unlike the Internet and software, there's no excuse for not recognizing right away huge public policy issues. To foster broader and more informed public discussion of radio regulation, I've posted a preliminary discussion paper on my website, galbithink.org. The abstract and outline are below. I hope that even persons without particular expertise in radio will take time to think about these issues and discuss them. Douglas Galbi, FCC Senior Economist."

Revolutionary Ideas for Radio Regulation

National and international broadband strategies should include radical changes in radio regulation. Radio technology is the key to rapid broadband development that reaches even geographically remote areas of the world. To get radical changes in radio regulation, a new world-wide conversation is needed around three questions.

• First, what is a good separation and balance of powers in radio regulation?
• Second, how should radio regulation be geographically configured?
• Third, how should radio regulation understand and respect personal freedom?

Most persons understand revolutionary ideas that answer these three questions. The challenge is to recognize this common knowledge and apply it to radio regulation.

Check out an outline of the contents.

Comments

Re:ICANN for Radio Bands?

[Your_Mom]

Sorta like the ITU?

They don't do licenses like the FCC, but they are in charge of band planning IIRC.

Re:Douglas Galbi?

[Fantanicity]

This page says

WHO ARE THE ECONOMISTS AT THE FCC?
Chief Economist, FCC
Joseph Farrell

Deputy Chief Economist, FCC
Chief Economist, Common Carrier Bureau
Gregory Rosston

There are 6 Bureau Chief Economists

Jim Coltharp
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Jerry Duvall
Competition Division

Doug Galbi
International Bureau

Dan Hodes
Cables Services Bureau

Tom Spavins
Competition Division

Doug Webbink
Mass Media Bureau

Re:Douglas Galbi?

[mlong]

Douglas Galbi, I don't know who you are, but your not the FCC's Senior Economist, I am. That's MY title. This story is a fake, and I'll prove it...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but that troll just got modded to 3.

Perhaps everyone should look here:

ftp://www.fcc.gov/pub/Bureaus/Wireless/OPP/mists.h tml

Re:ICANN for Radio Bands?

[Our Man In Redmond]

In some bands you're quite correct (namely, any band where you can't do much better than line-of-sight). However, there is a very real chance of interference in the shortwave bands (roughly 3-30 MHz). For instance, the 40 meter ham band in the US is interfered with by the 41 meter broadcast band in Europe anytime 40 is open between the two areas (they share the same set of frequencies, roughly 7100-7300 kHz). At some points in the propagation cycle this happens on a fairly regular basis, like nightly.

In the global scheme of things broadcasters interfering with hams is no big deal (except of course to the hams involved), and hams interfering with broadcasters even less so. But, consider a maritime distress or aviation band in those same general frequency areas. There needs to be some sort of coordination to make sure, for instance, that a maritime distress channel in the Indian Ocean isn't dropped right into the middle of some high-traffic communications channel.