As more wireless devices like smartphones and tablets are sold and used, the current infrastructure becomes substantially more taxed. Compression and caching technologies help a good bit, but as we use more data wirelessly, the only way forward is by allotting more wireless spectrum to telcos and device manufacturers. Yesterday, a letter from Alcatel-Lucent, Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion and Samsung was sent to US Congress in hopes of fast-tracking more spectrum to be freed up for purchase.
In the letter, of which excerpts have been published, the alliance says that “we joined this debate because policymakers need to know that we cannot simply engineer our way out of this problem.” Despite increasing moves to auction off more television spectrum, that’s not enough for these companies. They want access to the much coveted parts of the radio spectrum held by the federal government. In a less than subtle manner, the letter essentially accuses federal agencies of being inefficient and lazy with their prime cut of radio frequencies. They want federal agencies to increase efficiency, share bands with each other instead of using separate bands, and to lease the underutilized parts of their assigned spectrum.
Amusingly, the companies also attempt to link this spectrum crisis to the fiscal crisis that the government is facing with the so-called “fiscal cliff.” While requiring federal agencies to optimize their use of frequencies would obviously cause some serious friction and short-term costs, it would truly benefit the US government to lease more of its spectrum to the highest bidder. Everyone wins in this scenario. The government gets some cold hard cash, the telcos and device manufacturers get more wiggle room, and users get faster wireless connections and better coverage.
Emergency frequencies, like those used by police and fire companies, obviously shouldn’t be compromised by cell phone companies. However, the majority of that spectrum is used and partly controlled at the state and county level, so that would be difficult to manipulate or sell on a national level no matter what. It’s not at all impossible to sell that spectrum, but there is a lot of lower hanging fruit to be picked. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Office of Spectrum Management (OSM) has a huge PDF summary all about federal spectrum use. Without a doubt, congress and the OSM will be able to find nice big chunks to lease out to the telcos. It will take a bit of finagling to get everything right and to calm the nerves of those losing the spectrum, but it will benefit us all in the long run.
Apple, Intel, Samsung petition congress for more spectrum in search of faster wireless
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