One thing which has kept the broadband industry abuzz has been how it will divide the $7.2 billion allocated by the federal stimulus plan. Various entities are submitting proposals, and while many of them likely contain provisions for mobile broadband, Wireless Week features a bit from T-Mobile regarding the importance of mobile broadband. How would mobile broadband benefit America more than wireline connections? We’ll have T-Mobile’s statement after the jump.
Says the nation’s fourth-largest wireless carrier:
“[Mobile broadband] builds on today’s successful terrestrial mobile wireless services to provide consumers and businesses with anywhere, anytime access to convenient and productivity enhancing applications. Mobile broadband also can support applications that directly benefit consumers, such as public safety and telemedicine, with greater flexibility than wired broadband.”
That’s not to mention last mile issues, which can be addressed with mobile WiMax. The question, though, is of how hard other entities will push for mobile broadband stimulus provisions.
Additionally, T-Mobile wants additional spectrum for mobile broadband use. This is hard to argue with. Spectrum is by definition limited, meaning that wireless carriers have certain boundaries. It’s difficult to expand new technology, especially ones as far-reaching as mobile broadband, with such limitations. Opening up 200 MHz (hopefully more, even) for commercial use could benefit the whole industry.
Unfortunately, this will probably be a drawn-out process. The FCC has until February 17, 2010 to draft a proposal, but we’ve seen FCC deadlines extended in the past (::cough:: digital TV ::cough::). I wouldn’t be surprised to see this go on for another year.
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