HDTV Expert - A ‘Contrived’ Broadband Crisis, In

[720pete]

The FCC's announcement that it will partner with Best Buy's Geek Squad to teach more Americans how to use broadband shows there is NO wireless broadband crisis in this country.

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[AtomShop]

Here's a case of the clueless working with the no-minds. Pete is right on target with this.

[BobDiaz]

RE: Three reasons were cited in the article for the reluctance or refusal of 32% of Americans to sign up for and take advantage of ‘available’ broadband services to surf the Web.

OK, but I thought we were the land of the free. Whatever happened to people being allowed to make a choice? Now we have the Internet Nazis saying, "You vill have high speed internet and you vill LIKE IT!!!!"

The real driving force seem to be those who hope to turn a nice profit from it.

[videograbber]

Bravo! Excellent points, on all counts. Thanks, Pete!

- Tim

[jbbender]

Pete,

Let us not jump to conclusions before we really know the whole story. That happens too often in society these days. Especially in complex issues like this one.

I think I understand at least part of the point that the FCC chairman and the CEA head are trying to make. Their point seems to go along with the President's view that in order to be competitive in the rapidly developing and increasing world market, all US citizens need affordable access to the Internet to be able to keep up with world events and to educate themselves. This is not about using the net for entertainment, but for communication, research, and education.

Assuming you agree with that, let's talk about the 3 reasons for the reluctance or refusal of Americans to sign up and take advantage of available broadband. All of those reasons have to do with the fact that too many of us think that the Internet is only for entertainment and basic communication. I think this country needs to wake up and see the potential of the net (especially broadband), before it is too late and more countries have surpassed us. But given how some of us see the net and braodband now, it is not surprising that 32% don't want to and don't see the point of getting it.

Now I mostly agree with you about your concerns that Best Buy is benefiting financially from the government's efforts, (although it might be that they actually DO need the money). So creating a Bits Corps program as you call it, should have been explored. But not to instruct Americans as much about ordering things on the net, but more for the reasons I have stated above, such as knowledge, research, and education.

For these reasons, it IS the government's job to make sure that more Americans know how to use a computer and get on the Internet. It is part of educating our citizens, just like the schools do. Going to school is not a choice now, nor should it be. Using computers and the net is now like learning to use the telephone or a TV was back in the day. The net is a public utilty which only the government can control. And broadband is becoming that way.

So let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Even though getting Best Buy involved may not have been the way to go, the end goal is still valid. If it is not quite a crisis now, it will be very soon. It is not fabricated at all.

[720pete]

The problem I have with the FCC is Genachowski's insistence that TV broadcasters give up more spectrum, and that there is a 'wireless broadband crisis' that justifies it.

There is no such crisis at present. Even Ivan Seidenberg, the former CEO of Verizon, admitted in an unguarded moment that Verizon Wireless wasn't even using all of its allotted spectrum. And with AT&T buying out T-Mobile, that increases AT&T's capacity without asking for more spectrum.

The fact that CEA repeats this falsehood is ironic, given their support for the transition to digital TV just a couple of years ago.

The largest user of radio and TV spectrum is (surprise!) the United States government, which has tens of hundreds of MHz squirreled away for military, research, and other uses. If the FCC is so adamant about this phony crisis, then why not re-allocate some of the government-held spectrum for wireless broadband?

Targeting channels 32 through 51 will also result in a government-imposed technical obstacle to the success of the new MH digital TV services just as they are getting out of the gate. Try using a quarter-wave whip antenna on a portable VHF DTV receiver and see how you like it.

The real question is, why does the FCC want to diminish the availability of free, over-the-air DTV services and HDTV in a time of economic stress for many Americans, who are charged way too much for cable TV? The FCC's charge, in the Communications Act of 1934, is to "regulate the airwaves in the public interest."

Clearly, advocating fewer channels for free DTV is NOT in that interest, especially when the spectrum taken away will ultimately benefit members of CTIA and we'll all have to pay through the nose for it. Why not shut down the old analog cell phone band at 800 MHz? The FCC could easily free up 120 MHz there for wireless broadband. We 'sunsetted' digital TV, why not 'sunset' 1G cell service and analog phones?

BTW, I do agree that more Americans should be presented with the opportunity to learn more about using computers and the Internet, but if they opt not to, that is their choice. And any such educational program should not be run by a for-profit company using taxpayer dollars. There are plenty of adult education courses at high schools and community colleges that are more than up to the task.

[gartrste]

Dial-up tends to get a new IP address with every connections; broadband, on the other hand, usually gives you a fixed IP address at least until you cycle the modem. Further, broadband can be made to always give you a fixed IP address based upon the modem serial number, thus tying IP to physical location.

That makes it easier to track your interactions on the internet.

And there is the transmission side...it is almost impossible to inject specific advertising or censor specific data while targeting specific households with OTA 'cuz your neighbors can see it too and call B.S....on the other hand, it isn't technically challenging with broadband/cable plus there aren't any checks-and-balances 'cuz nobody will know what each other is seeing/not seeing.

Paranoia? Maybe...maybe.