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- Artist, Open Government, and Civil Liberties Groups Join Calls for ACTA Transparency
- Mr. X-Parté: Origins
- Clearwire WiMAX live in Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte
- Transparency, choice and control - now complete with a Dashboard!
Featured Publications
Citizens Guide to the AirwavesA Graphic Depiction of the Uses -- and Misuses -- of the Radiofrequency Spectrum
The Art of Spectrum LobbyingAmerica's $480 Billion Spectrum Giveaway, How it Happened, and How to Prevent it from Recurring
The Cartoon Guide to Federal Spectrum PolicyWhat if the Government Regulated Spoken Words the Way It Regulates the Airwaves?
Mobile Data Demand and the Need for Increased Spectrum Access
There is no doubt that consumer demand for mobile data applications is exploding worldwide. As Smartphones with PC capabilities and broadband aircards gain access to faster 4G networks beginning next year, total wireless data consumption will increase geometrically. Cisco’s annual projection of global Internet traffic predicts a 129% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for mobile data over the next five years in North America (through 2013).
While there is no question that the existing commercial wireless architecture – based on exclusive licensing, tower-based hub/spoke channelization, centralized infrastructure and metered billing – will need substantially more exclusive-use spectrum in the short-run to meet mobile data demand, it should be equally clear that this model is not sustainable longer term. Therefore, in addition to reallocating bands cleared completely for exclusive licensing, promoting pervasive connectivity, innovation and consumer welfare suggests that any Administration initiative also lay the groundwork for complementary spectrum access models that are sustainable and pro-consumer.
Read the paper here.
Broadband Truth-in-Labeling
A Schumer Box for Broadband
Broadband subscribers are often frustrated that the actual performance of their internet access service regularly falls far below the advertised speeds. Consumers set their expectations based on phrases like "up to 16 Mbps," and are disappointed to learn that these quotes are worthless as assurances. Currently, there is no lawful requirement for ISPs to reveal the contents of the broadband services they are providing; customers might be harmed by the invalid or ambiguous languages.The Open Technology Initiative is calling for a Truth-in-Labeling by our nation's broadband operators. Drawn from similar useful disclosure requirements by lenders, these Broadband Truth-in-Labeling disclosure standards will give the marketplace a much-needed tool that clarifies and adds meaning to the terms and conditions of the service being offered.
Read more here.
A National Broadband Plan for Our Future
Google and New America team up to encourage public input
As part of the economic stimulus legislation (ARRA), Congress charged the FCC with creating a National Broadband Plan by next February. The Commission has called for "maximum civic engagement" in developing a broadband strategy, reflecting input from all stakeholders. Initial comments have been filed and now it’s the public’s turn to contribute their views and ideas. To encourage public input, the New America Foundation joined forces with Google to launch a Google Moderator page to aggregate public opinion on this critical policy issue.
After just two weeks, some 2,234 people submitted 592 ideas and cast 46,979 votes, reflecting input from many different stakeholders. The top 5 ideas from the forum:
- Install broadband fiber as part of every federally-funded infrastructure project.
- Remove the monopolies held by cable companies.
- Make Broadband a Utility.
- Force real competition in any given market for broadband services from the same types of provider to eliminate monopolies.
- Hold the telcos to the payments they have already received for extending fiber to homes.
Read the full results here.
The End of Spectrum ‘Scarcity'
Opportunistic Access to the Airwaves
As the FCC begins its year-long process to recommend a National Broadband Plan, one starting point is to unlock publicly-owned assets that can facilitate ubiquitous, affordable broadband access. Wireless spectrum remains the most cost-effective and rapid means to deliver broadband access to rural and unserved urban residents. But as mobile broadband use continues to increase exponentially, demand for spectrum will rapidly outpace availability under current spectrum management policies.
The Wireless Future Program hosted an event with leading technology and policy experts who believe dynamic, opportunistic access to underutilized spectrum – especially federal government bands – is feasible if we can only muster the political will. You can visit the event page here.
The Wireless Future Program also released four new papers on the subject:
The End of Spectrum Scarcity: Building on the TV Bands Database to Access Unused Public Airwaves
By Michael Calabrese, Director, Wireless Future Program
Revitalizing the Public Airwaves:
Opportunistic Unlicensed Reuse of Government Spectrum
By Victor Pickard and Sascha Meinrath, Director, Open Technology Initiative
New Approaches to Private Sector Sharing of Federal Government Spectrum
By Michael J. Marcus, Principal, Marcus Spectrum Solutions
A Potential Alliance for World-Wide Dynamic Spectrum Access: DSA as an Enabler of National Dynamic Spectrum Management
By Preston F. Marshall, Director, Information Sciences Institute, Viterbi School of Engineering, USC and Former Program Manager, DARPA
Next Generation Communications
Essential Building-Blocks For Universal High-Speed Broadband
NAF Comments on FCC's National Broadband Plan
NAF believes that a national effort to invest in the essential fiber infrastructures that interconnect all broadband networks and are essential to high-capacity connections, along with innovative 21st century spectrum polices to tap into the enormous, underutilized capacity of our national spectrum resources can serve as the foundation for high-speed broadband deployment in communities across the country.
Read our full comments here.
Read our rural broadband comments here.
Read our BTOP comments here.
Press
| Headline | Date |
|---|---|
| DC Public Interest Community Urges FCC to Not Allow Selectable Output Control Restrictions | November 5, 2009 |
| Biggest Net Neutrality Boosters Question FCC Proposal | Washington Post | November 2, 2009 |
| Setting the Table for the National Broadband Plan | BroadbandCensus.com | October 30, 2009 |
| Network Engineers Question Need for Net Neutrality Rules | PC World | October 29, 2009 |
| A Nutrition Box for Internet service? | Washington Post | October 29, 2009 |
| Schumer Box Idea | Ars Technica | October 20, 2009 |
| Washington Technorati Toast Public Knowledge and Its IP3 Awards | BroadbandCensus.com | October 15, 2009 |
| Consumer Groups Criticize Broadband Providers for Advertising Practices ... | BroadbandCensus.com | October 15, 2009 |
| Federal Government Calls for Broadband Transparency | TMC Net | October 13, 2009 |
| Does Broadband Need Its Own Government "Nutrition Label"? | Ars Technica | October 1, 2009 |
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FCC Filings
Click here for a list of all of our FCC filings.
The Wireless Future Program, along with allies in the public interest and high-tech communities, frequently submits comments in Federal Communications Commission proceedings of relevance to our policy goals.
About Us
New America's Wireless Future Program develops and advocates policy proposals to promote universal, affordable and ubiquitous broadband and improve the public’s access to critical wireless communication technologies. It seeks to promote fair and efficient use of the airwaves to unlock the full potential of the wireless age for all Americans. In each economic era wealth creation has been driven by specific resources. In the agricultural era it was land; in the industrial era, it was energy. Today the American people collectively own the most valuable resource of the emerging information economy: the public airwaves, also known as the electromagnetic spectrum. As the world goes wireless, access to the airwaves is the “oil of the information age;” indeed, economists estimate the commercial value of existing licenses at over $750 billion. Unfortunately, our nation’s antiquated spectrum policies have created artificial spectrum scarcity that reduces innovation and competition, inhibits the rapid deployment of universal affordable wireless broadband services, and sacrifices many billions of dollars in public revenue.
A more-detailed program description is available here.
Program Staff
- Michael Calabrese
Vice President and Director, Wireless Future Program - Sascha Meinrath
Research Director, Wireless Future Program; Director, Open Technology Intiative - Benjamin Lennett
Policy Analyst, Wireless Future Program
