Senate Discusses Third Pipe Using 700MHz Spectrum

Freebird writes "The US Senate Commerce Committee held hearings on the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction today, and much of the discussion centered around Frontline Wireless' proposal to create a commercial wireless broadband network that would also be used for public safety. 'Under Frontline's proposal, the FCC would auction off 10 MHz from the commercially available spectrum and offer that to the highest bidder. The winner would also be given (free) 12 MHz out of the 24 MHz currently allotted to public safety.' Some senators were skeptical, especially Ted Stevens of Alaska who had a 'long and testy interchange' with Frontline CEO James Barksdale. 'He seemed to be zeroing on criticisms that the Frontline proposal was simply a way for a new company to get a huge discount on a prime chunk of spectrum by playing the "public safety" card.'"

Comments

Fitting...

[setirw]

Some senators were skeptical, especially Ted Stevens of Alaska

Creating a new pipe would nullify his "clogged tubes" argument against net neutrality!

Re:Fitting...

[Savage-Rabbit]

Some senators were skeptical, especially Ted Stevens of Alaska Creating a new pipe would nullify his "clogged tubes" argument against net neutrality! So? Put some weed in his pipe and light it, he'll soon change his mind.

Ted Stevens

[deblau]

Shhh don't tell him about the invisible tubes in the sky...

Jealousy is unbecoming, Senator.

[Anonymous Coward]

> 'He seemed to be zeroing on criticisms that the Frontline proposal was simply a way for a new company to get a huge discount on a prime chunk of spectrum by playing the "public safety" card.'"

It takes one to know one, Senator.

Just because you weren't offered a piece of the action this time is no reason to get all snippy^Wtesty about it.

Ted, I don't get it.

[PineHall]

'He seemed to be zeroing on criticisms that the Frontline proposal was simply a way for a new company to get a huge discount on a prime chunk of spectrum by playing the "public safety" card.'

Frontline's auction proposal, if accepted, will set some parameters. The spectrum will still go to the highest bidder. That may not be Frontline.

And Dogs Everywhere Rejoiced

[BlueMikey]

Wireless flea and tick control? Sweet.

Health concerns

[Anonymous Coward]

Before flaming this post based on the subject line, read this article and this one, which are about studies demonstrating the mechanism for learning disability caused by exposure to 700MHz RF fields.

Re:Health concerns

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, it does work the same way; RF exposure outcome is dose-dependant. Though their main point (in the second article) was that the effect that can kill you (RF-induced heating) is different from the effect that they observe (neurons are more excitable).

I would not worry too much, however, since the experimental conditions are quite different from those inside your brain. If you read the article, you will notice that even a thin 1 mm layer of liquid shields the cells rather nicely. (and your hippocampus is shielded by over 100 mm of blood, CSF, and bone. Also, 50 V/m RF strengths are virtually never encountered in real life; usually something on the order of mV/m tops.

Of course, you never know if the effects are additive over a long period of time. If in doubt, use a tinfoil hat (remember to use thick metal foil, wrap as much of your body as you can, and actually ground it, or it's useless (use 1MOhm resistor in line or you might electrocute yourself).

Re:Taco

[TerovThePyro]

While the facts are true that most elected leaders have not received the majority of their constituent's votes, they are still the elected leader and thus have the right to speak for their country.

Those who do not use their voice in democracy can not complain when democracy does not speak their voice.

We should really all stop ragging on Ted Stevens

[Valacosa]

Why is it people can't stop making fun of Ted Stevens? Sure, he made a poorly worded analogy. Big deal - the internet had been compared to plumbing before, would you like to rag on these guys too?

What I find most disgusting though is even though this one event seems ingrained in geek memory, these same geeks conveniently forget when Ted Stevens came out on our side. Personally, I think Americans would be better off if you had more politicians like him in office.

How about giving a bit more the the ARRL too!

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't mind some 700Mhz bandwidth for PUBLIC use of the PUBLIC airwaves. Might as well throw LPFM in just because my voice doesn't count! -- off to the interwebs!

Re:We should really all stop ragging on Ted Steven

[Bozdune]

Yes, then we could have more billion dollar bridges to nowhere.

Re:We should really all stop ragging on Ted Steven

[Surt]

The most ironic part is that for all everyone makes fun of him, the internet is, in fact, mostly made up of a series of tubes.

Re:We should really all stop ragging on Ted Steven

[unitron]

That wasn't a bridge to nowhere, that was a bridge that would have greatly increased the value of land owned by Alaska's other Republican Senator and by her father, Alaska's Republican governor.

Selling spectrum stinks

[unitron]

Spectrum that was once set aside for television stations is now desired for other uses, including the important one of public safety, but the government is having to go to a great deal of trouble to get it back from the broadcasters whose only claim to it has been a temporary renewable license to use it (basically at no charge) "in the public interest".

What happens when, in the mysterious future, a new and important use is found for a particular slice of airwaves that have already been sold off? Will it be necessary to go to the Supreme Court to get a ruling that lets the government declare "eminent domain" and force the owner to sell it back? Better to lease it and still get some money out of it but retain ownership and control.

Re:Selling spectrum stinks

[Detritus]

If the FCC wants to reallocate spectrum, they can do it. They are under no obligation to compensate the existing licensees or to provide them with new spectrum. The same is true if new regulations make your current equipment obsolete. I've been on the receiving end of this sort of thing in the past. If the FCC properly follows their own procedures for rule-making, there isn't anything that you can do about it.