I was watching CNN yesterday and they had a checklist for Obama's new deal. At a cost of 1 trillion dollars over two years, one interesting project included providing free wireless broadband access. Obama believes being ranked 15th in broadband access is unacceptable in the country that invented the internet. This is just something else radio may have to compete with. I know, it’s already out there with Sprint, ATT, ect, but the "free" part of that caught my attention.
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President Obama's New Deal includes wireless internet
- Thread starter fm-engineer
- Start date
HOO-boy! Another gubmint boondoggle.
Among many other technical considerations for the wireless internet will be the exploding number of access scammers should this become a reality. As it is, most wireless users don't understand how their systems work or the need to protect their connection. And just wait until the rolling evolution of wireless specs catches the general population. Talk about techno-frustration!
But something else entirely comes to mind. Just what is so captivating about the internet that requires wireless? People who need instant access to the internet/email already have that capability through their cell phones. What additional content is so important that it requires immediate access through a nationwide system?
Pardon me if I see this as just technology for technology's sake.
Among many other technical considerations for the wireless internet will be the exploding number of access scammers should this become a reality. As it is, most wireless users don't understand how their systems work or the need to protect their connection. And just wait until the rolling evolution of wireless specs catches the general population. Talk about techno-frustration!
But something else entirely comes to mind. Just what is so captivating about the internet that requires wireless? People who need instant access to the internet/email already have that capability through their cell phones. What additional content is so important that it requires immediate access through a nationwide system?
Pardon me if I see this as just technology for technology's sake.
More change that Obama promised(ha).Looks like a Clinton administration,WHAT CHANGE IS HE TALKING ABOUT?.Ever notice how much he studders and stammers when he can't read his BS off a teleprompter? Free wireless? A hackers dream come true.Since Al Gore invented the internet,maybe Obama could put him in charge of the free wireless.(ha)
We have an entire generation that is used to wireless everything, and full-time Internet access. I can't believe that you old fogies find this either surprising, or problematic.
The repercussions for radio may be significant if this happens. Realistically, Obama has a few other promises to keep before he gets to this one.
The repercussions for radio may be significant if this happens. Realistically, Obama has a few other promises to keep before he gets to this one.
I sincerely doubt this will happen. AT&T and Verizon would howl that the government was taking their business away.
SirRoxalot said:
Observing my kids' friends and hordes of people at the mall (what us old timers used to call 'downtown') I don't see "wireless everything" but rather mostly cell phones, and through them the Internet. Most of these people seem to be used the phone for voice or to text and not as Internet terminals although there is the occasional dork who walks into a door while watching a YouTube video on their phone.
Well ,since the government is giving away our future as well as future generations,maybe they will give AT&T a 100 BILLON to go away.i have nothing against wireless,but free is insane.Dark times loom ahead for this economy.Obama wants to build new roads so the presently unemployed will at least have a smoothier ride.Gotta go, i think my prune juice is working.
I'm close to the "fuddy duddy" age point and I use my Treo 650 (ancient technology by todays standard) to listen with Coreplayer to many radio stations when I either can't pick up the signal well or a show is being preempted by local sports BS. I see no problem with folks utilizing the new technology that is evolving. We are all being dragged into the digital world kicking and screaming whether we like it or not. I studied flame bottle technology when I originally went through engineering school and have managed to adapt. The way I see kids manipulate their cell phones, computer and video games I don't think they will have any problem adapting. The software will also evolve with the help of Apple and others to keep the geekdom confusion away from the casual user to insure a positive experience.
That the connection is free (hard to believe) doesn't mean all the content needs to be. You can have a free connection with limited functions (defined by the government as free to everyone) and after that you start paying to Sprint/AT&T etc. And just because the method of distributing your content is changing doesn't necessarily mean the end for radio broadcast.
No way is free, ubiquitous internet going to happen. I wouldn't believe everything you read. I mean, over the weekend...wasn't the headline something along the lines of Obama says due to the economy...some of his "changes" may have to wait?.....then again.....I read it online...so don't believe that, either. Don't believe this post, either. Now self destructing.....
"Free" is relative.
You old people remember when every kid wanted their own phone line, and would actually get a part time job to support the cost if mommy and daddy wouldn't give it to them. Nowdays, land lines are history and kids will plunk down more that I will for unlimited talk and messaging on their cell phones. A few even pay for ersatz Internet access via cell. It's expensive, but the price is headed downward.
The telcos are busy installing more wireless capacity. 3G wireless - 3rd generation - offers Internet access at about DSL speed. The next generation - 4G - will likely use WiMax to offer much faster Internet access, along with the rest of the typical voice and messaging services. Wireless requires much less maintenance, and ultimately has much lower installation costs than wire or fiber connections. Bandwidth is an issue, which is why packeted information, compression, expansion of wireless spectrum, and QoS schemes are at the forefront of development budgets.
The billing model is likely to change. You'll likely pay for the number of bits that you moved, not for individual services, a few years from now. We already have phones that can automatically switch between telco access and WiFi. We're likely to see expansion of such devices, along with expansion of WiFi nets in areas of high population density. As network traffic increases, people will either pay extra for faster access, or service will slow as more people get onboard.
The government will press for expansion of wireless access areas to include places with lower population density. Telcos will build out wireless to offer government mandated services to areas with lower population density that make the installation of fiber or even copper exorbitantly expensive. All of these factors will bring the cost of wireless access down, and increase speeds for users. The telcos will make their money by moving bits - LOTS of bits - that will bring everything from simple text messages to HD TV to end users.
You old people remember when every kid wanted their own phone line, and would actually get a part time job to support the cost if mommy and daddy wouldn't give it to them. Nowdays, land lines are history and kids will plunk down more that I will for unlimited talk and messaging on their cell phones. A few even pay for ersatz Internet access via cell. It's expensive, but the price is headed downward.
The telcos are busy installing more wireless capacity. 3G wireless - 3rd generation - offers Internet access at about DSL speed. The next generation - 4G - will likely use WiMax to offer much faster Internet access, along with the rest of the typical voice and messaging services. Wireless requires much less maintenance, and ultimately has much lower installation costs than wire or fiber connections. Bandwidth is an issue, which is why packeted information, compression, expansion of wireless spectrum, and QoS schemes are at the forefront of development budgets.
The billing model is likely to change. You'll likely pay for the number of bits that you moved, not for individual services, a few years from now. We already have phones that can automatically switch between telco access and WiFi. We're likely to see expansion of such devices, along with expansion of WiFi nets in areas of high population density. As network traffic increases, people will either pay extra for faster access, or service will slow as more people get onboard.
The government will press for expansion of wireless access areas to include places with lower population density. Telcos will build out wireless to offer government mandated services to areas with lower population density that make the installation of fiber or even copper exorbitantly expensive. All of these factors will bring the cost of wireless access down, and increase speeds for users. The telcos will make their money by moving bits - LOTS of bits - that will bring everything from simple text messages to HD TV to end users.
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