IP: Forbes (Karlgaard) article

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@warpspeed.com>
>
> [Note:  This item comes from reader Jim Forster.  I like Karlgaard's use 
> of the 'ocean' as a metaphor for 'open spectrum'.  I've been using a 
> western 'open range' metaphor myself, with the cattle representing the 
> radios.  I just might like this 'ocean' metaphor better!  <g>  In any 
> case, it looks like Rich has been drinking the right Kool-Aid!   DLH]
>
> At 17:35 -0800 1/22/02, Jim Forster wrote:
> > From: "Jim Forster" <forster@cisco.com>
> > To: "Dewayne Hendricks" <dewayne@dandin.com>
> > Subject: Forbes (Karlgaard) article
> > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:35:15 -0800
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> >
> > Hi Dewayne,
> >
> > Pretty interesting column by Rich Karlgaard.
> >
> > <http://www.forbes.com/technology/forbes/2002/0121/031.html?_requestid=5734>
> > (registration required).
> >
> > Conclusion:
> >
> > "The answer is cheap wireless. But here, once more, we bow to Washington
> > policymakers. The U.S. government makes available too little wireless
> > spectrum for what could turn out to be tomorrow's fastest-growing industry:
> > wireless Web networks. Could turn out to be? Look how fast WiFi has grown
> > with its tiny slice. The Federal Communications Commission needs to jettison
> > its outdated view of spectrum rights. Today's blazing fast chips make it
> > possible for messages--whether e-mail, voice or video--to zigzag through
> > wide swaths of spectrum without bumping into anyone else's message. Chip
> > technology permitting this miracle gets doubly good every 18 months. Which
> > means our FCC's laws--which treat spectrum as a sort of real estate,
> > complete with CCRs and fences--get doubly moronic every year and a half.
> >
> > The appropriate metaphor for spectrum in the 21st century is the ocean, not
> > real estate. Boats make one guarantee--to avoid one another--then the ocean
> > is pretty much theirs to use. Similarly, e-mail, voice and video should be
> > free to travel the entire sweep of God's airwaves. Only one law need apply:
> > Don't interfere.
> >
> > Memo to Michael Powell: Here's your chance to become the most famous FCC
> > chairman in history and rescue the American economy in one bold stroke."

For archives see:
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/