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FCC To Expand Wireless Spectrum

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-isn't-that-nice-of-them dept.

Makarand writes "According to this article in the SF Chronicle the FCC will expand the wireless spectrum to push broadband into rural areas. However, consumer groups were quick to point out that these frequencies are not powerful enough to handle long range broadband communications. They want the FCC to open lower frequencies that can penetrate through walls and trees for wireless applications in rural areas."

6 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. how about secure protocol?... by zasos · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Excelent news but what about developing Wi-Fi protocol that does not have inherent security flaws?.. or is it realm of consumer education how to turn on encription and password on the wireless routers?..

    --

    Just because I don't care, it doesn't mean I don't understand. Homer J. Simpson
  2. Anything would be a step forward by Zygote-IC- · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm a mere seven miles outside a city. It's not a metropolis by any means, but those seven miles are the difference between DSL/Cable and absoultely no real broadband.
    And no, DirecWay does not count.
    Anything they would do to close that gap and allow us people who live out in "the country" to participate in the broadband revolution would be a blessing.
    I keep hearing that broadband is failing because it costs too much or there is no real content that people want. No one ever mentions the fact that there is a large segment of the population that flat out has no real options.
    Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to downloading my 152 meg game demo. It should be finished sometime before the sun explodes.

  3. Re:What about Ricochet? by mrmoa · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It may be on its way out...again. According to this story the company is "actively evaluating a number of options relative to its business prospects". In my book that's code for "trying to figure out how to make next week's payroll."

  4. Re:You don't want much more power! by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Power level has nothing to do with security."

    Yes it does. The less you use, the closer somebody has to be to your physical location to peek into your signal.

    Think, then reply.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  5. Re:You don't want much more power! by SheldonYoung · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Again, no. There's security but it's as in false-sense-of.

    You can't assume how far your signal can be detected. If you're counting on distance to help protect your signal, unless it's a veeeery long distance without physical access, you are deluding yourself. What if someone is listening with very sensitive equipment? What if a firmware upgrade increases the output power of your gear? What if it's the office in the floor above you doing the evesdropping? There are a lot of what-ifs.

    If you're thinking about signal strength in the same breath as security you have a lot to learn about what it means to be secure.

  6. Re:You don't want much more power! by LiENUS · · Score: 2, Insightful

    and YOU have a lot to learn about what it means to be secure as well... lets assume someone wants to get into your network, you use encryption such as the current wifi encryption incarnation, the more packets someone gets ahold of our of your encryption the faster they crack it, thus if your power level is higher it is easier for someone to break in, security isnt a wall a wall that stops everything, it is barbwire that deters people on foot from coming in.