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 OFFLINE | In his State of the Union address last month, Mr. Obama called for securing high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans within five years. On Thursday, the White House released details of how he would spend billions of dollars for the plan, which also includes a high-tech wireless public safety system that would tie cities and towns together in the event of a national emergency like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Under Mr. Obama’s proposal, which the White House maintains would also raise enough revenue to cut the deficit by $9.6 billion over the next decade, the government would nearly double the wireless spectrum available for mobile broadband. That would be achieved in part through “voluntary incentive auctions” in which broadcasters, who license the spectrum through the Federal Communications Commission, would release some of it back to the government, which would in turn sell it to wireless companies.
The administration calculates that the auctions, coupled with more efficient government use of the spectrum, would raise $27.8 billion in revenue over the next decade. But that figure depends on whether broadcasters cooperate, and it is difficult to know whether the administration’s calculations are correct.
“A plan such as this necessarily requires a lot of assumptions,” Matt Wood, associate director of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit advocacy group, said in an e-mail. “It is very hard to predict exactly how much money these auctions would raise, and how much will have to be shared with incumbent licensees. Thus, while these initiatives may be on the right track, questions remain as to whether this plan will work.”
Mr. Obama is also asking Congress to make a one-time investment of $5 billion to bring wireless coverage to rural areas, and is proposing to spend $3 billion of the spectrum proceeds on research and development into new wireless technologies. And the president is calling for a $10.7 billion commitment to support what the administration describes as a “nationwide wireless broadband network” for public safety.
okay, again, is this something the government needs to get involved in? there are just so many flaws with this plan it isn't even funny. first of all, the emergency broadcast system wasn't even used on 9/11, and i'm not sure how vital it is to the safety of some farmer in iowa to hear about a terrorist attack on the east coast. and even if he didn't have wireless internet, he would still find out some other way. what's wrong with good old fashioned wired internet?
secondly, rural areas are just that - rural. it's not as if there are THAT many people in south dakota who NEED wireless internet. there aren't that many people in south dakota period.
if there was a high demand for wireless internet in rural areas, then providers would already have set up networks there.
thirdly, if obama says it will pay for itself, that makes me worry. i think we've heard that song before.
and lastly, why is it a necessity that billions of dollars worth of taxpayer money be used for this. like i said, if there's a market for this, then let the providers pay for it. they have enough money.
this guy just doesn't get that we're broke! |
it never ends
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