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What will the new President mean for WiMAX and Broadband Wireless Policy in the US?
Will the incoming President Barack Obama be friendly towards WiMAX and broadband wireless access?
In previous interviews and from his position paper on technology,
President-elect Obama has stated his support for net neutrality. Although,
this is a position that is probably not popular with service providers,
protecting the openness of the Internet is certainly a laudable goal. The
free-wheeling nature of the Internet has certainly allowed very creative uses of
worldwide networks. But anyway you slice it, support of net neutrality
will have an affect upon WiMAX and other broadband carriers.
Obama has also stated that he would not support any type of immunity for telecom
companies that collaborated with the Federal government if such collaboration
violated federal privacy laws. Somewhat in counterpoint, Obama has also
said he does not support forcing service providers to keep logs on subscribers
or their usage of the Internet, which could reduce potential burdens to
carriers.
The new President also appears to prefer to support research and development tax
credits, which could aid innovative companies in offering new services, rather
than new taxes on internet usage.
To address elements that may be interesting to broadband wireless carriers,
Obama has expressed a willingness to improve broadband penetration and policies
to free up more wireless spectrum. Intentions to build out broadband to
more US residents or facilities such as libraries, schools and hospitals are a
terrific idea, but my big question is where is the money for that? I don't
think it is there.
However, in the area of wireless spectrum I think the President-elect could see
an opportunity to leverage a policy change to encourage more broadband
penetration. Most everything I have read indicates that the
President-elect intends to review wireless spectrum policy and its usage to
encourage that more spectrum gets in the hands of those who will use it.
The nation's major Telcos must absolutely hate this notion, because they have
made huge investments in infrastructure and the last thing they want is a
potential competitor using spectrum they previously controlled.
I am on record in the past as saying that what we need is not so much more
licensed spectrum, but more licensed spectrum in the hands of smaller companies
who would deploy in more rural areas. Wouldn't it be great if market
forces and opportunities would lead major wireless service providers to sublet
spectrum in areas they have no immediate build-out plans? Absolutely it
would. Will that happen? Perhaps it could as there are at least two firms
attempting to broker spectrum license purchase and sublease, but I don't have a
lot of confidence this will have a major effect on actual service launches in
rural areas.
So, what is my conclusion? I think this new President will be much more
technology friendly and aware than previous administrations, but I think he will
be profoundly hampered by the economy in terms of being able to put direct
monies in the WiMAX industry. I also think he will create some furor over
licensed spectrum licenses. How much remains to be seen.
Tim Sanders
www.TheFinalMile.net
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