Obama to Expand Broadband
Not everyone is happy about it but Obama is planning to sign today a memorandum that “ aims to make available for auction some 500 megahertz of spectrum that is now controlled by the federal government and private companies”. This additional spectrum will be used to expand high speed broadband access to consumers as well as to public safety agencies looking to communicate across jurisdictions in emergencies.
Telecommunications firms heavily invested in hardwired systems may loose out as more consumers move to wireless technologies and TV broadcasters are being asked to give up spectrum as well – which they argue limits their ability to provide a free local service to millions of Americans.
Regardless of which companies “win or lose” – hopefully consumers will ultimately benefit from lower cost high speed connectivity.
