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| Technology Review |
The deficit super committee and congressional technology committees searching for new money are considering "incentive auctions" of the TV band spectrum. Versions of these plans that focus on simply selling as much spectrum as possible would threaten the future of wireless innovation in the U.S.
For starters, it would threaten what appears to be the next wave in wireless communications—a wave exemplified by two recently launched products. The first product is Amazon's Kindle Fire, which came out as a purely Wi-Fi device from a company that only four years ago launched the Kindle as a cellular-only device with service baked into the device price. The second is a $19.99 unlimited voice, text, and data service from Republic Wireless, which uses Wi-Fi as baseline infrastructure, and cellular as its fallback.
Perhaps, subconsciously I was attracted to this article because this is in the Zeitgeist: Wednesday the so-called bipartisan super-committee has to produce "something."
W-I-I-T-F-M: What's in it for me?
Obviously, this is a physics blog, so at times I'm bound to go "deep geek."
However, even if you don't own a pad (I for example, don't), this will significantly affect your access to the next generation wireless technology. Companies will be forced to sell in other lucrative markets, and the cost in the US to own it might become prohibitive...with the markets, go the future jobs.
Not all those jobs are technical: physics and engineering types aren't bad at HR, or nontechnical support roles, they're just better suited for other areas. I can personally say: I make a lousy sales rep!
Also: technical and nontechnical alike tend to buy STUFF, as in: flatscreen TVs, Broadway tickets, clothing, food at stores and restaurants. They invest money in 401(k) plans and purchase stocks on Wall Street. Most important - they pay sales, state and federal taxes in this country, repairing roads, paying for police, fire, EMS; funding education and retirees replaced by students matriculating and affording public institutions that have not become exorbitantly expensive.
With the increase of a technically skilled workforce, the support structure also must accommodate it proportionately. This is an example truly of "a rising tide lifts all boats." (John F. Kennedy)
Not all those jobs are technical: physics and engineering types aren't bad at HR, or nontechnical support roles, they're just better suited for other areas. I can personally say: I make a lousy sales rep!
Also: technical and nontechnical alike tend to buy STUFF, as in: flatscreen TVs, Broadway tickets, clothing, food at stores and restaurants. They invest money in 401(k) plans and purchase stocks on Wall Street. Most important - they pay sales, state and federal taxes in this country, repairing roads, paying for police, fire, EMS; funding education and retirees replaced by students matriculating and affording public institutions that have not become exorbitantly expensive.
With the increase of a technically skilled workforce, the support structure also must accommodate it proportionately. This is an example truly of "a rising tide lifts all boats." (John F. Kennedy)
Food for thought...
Technology Review: Why Simply Selling Our Airwaves Will Cost Us in the Long Run
Obviously, this came not to be much of an issue: to have a byproduct, one must first have a decision/problem-solving process in place!
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