Telcos Compete For Education Broadcast Spectrum

palegray.net writes "A consortium of large telecommunications companies are competing to deliver high speed wireless Internet access over frequencies allocated for educational use. The schools who control the frequencies, long frustrated by difficulties in obtaining cost-effective net access, find the tables turned in their favor. From the LA Times: '... technological advances have made the airwaves easier to use — and much more lucrative to hold. For Cal State Los Angeles, Long Beach, Dominguez Hills, Fullerton and Pomona, as well as schools and religious institutions around the country, holding a license to the spectrum as the wireless industry expands has been like finding a winning lottery ticket in a dresser drawer. The agreements funnel thousands and even millions of dollars annually to schools at a time of budget cutbacks and economic slowdown.'

Comments

Re:A little more background please for non-USA fol

[mikael]

Here's a link to the purpose of the education spectrum

In 1963, the frequency band 2500-2686 MHz was reserved to educational institutions for over-the-air transmission of instructional TV programs. Transmission was point-to-point, for example, campus-to-campus or campus-to-hospital for continuing education needs. Hence the name: Instructional Television, Fixed Service (ITFS). The power authorized (up to 100 watts) allowed transmit/receive separations of up to 30-40 miles.