Over the past few weeks and months we’ve heard plenty about the Federal Communications Commission, headed by Chairman Julius Genachowski, and their plan to provide free wireless broadband to the entire country, especially the 35 percent who currently lack it. The goal is to get 90 percent of the population covered, using partnerships with entities both private and public. The plan sounds aggressive, and it represents an idealistic vision. But we’ve seen many plans like this die before. Will the National Broadband fall victim to a difficult bureaucratic process?
It’s unknown at this point exactly how Genachowski will present his vision, but it will likely involve using white spaces. The best analogy I can come up with here is HD radio. White spaces would utilize the unused portions between spectrum bands to provide low-cost internet. This is especially important in rural areas, which suffer from last-mile issues that plague most new technological developments.
There will likely be some kind of backlash from private businesses seeking to profit from wireless spectrum. If the FCC’s plan involves a base level of usage, however — perhaps akin to EDGE data, or low-level EVDO, then perhaps private companies will be less concerned. That would allow them to continue offering a premium service. With 4G networks around the corner, the public and private entities could coexist.
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