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story category U. Texas Backs Off Wi-Fi Ban
'Not worth the Brouhaha' says IT man
(old news - 06:20PM Thursday Sep 16 2004)
tags: wireless
Apparently the University of Texas, who caused quite a stir by deciding to ban all un-sanctioned hotspots on campus, quietly rescinded the decision. There's still some debate over whether or not a landlord owns the airwaves that traverse his property; opponents arguing the FCC has ruled (pdf) in the past that no-one may regulate use of the 2.4GHz spectrum. "Based on what they (the FCC) say, I'm going to have to back away from the policy," said Bill Hargrove, executive director of information resources. Hangrove argues he could debate the point, but it's "not worth the brouhaha."

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Forums » U. Texas Backs Off Wi-Fi Ban
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Post a:

bltsob
Evil By Desire
Premium
join:2002-09-03
Richeyville, PA

Cool

Hey, the fcc is actually GOOD for something now...

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

Not worth the Brouhaha?

Then why did he stir it up? DUH!
--
Nuke 'em all, let God sort 'em out.
amdfanboy

join:2004-09-15
Rowlett, TX

Who said they are regulating the spectrum?

They could just ban routers and AP's. Last time I checked, those were wern't classified as the "2.4GHz spectrum". Anyway...
rengaw03

join:2002-09-13
Spokane, WA

Re: Who said they are regulating the spectrum?

Who said they were regulating the spectrum? They did.

University of Texas was banning all wireless routers and access points, regardless of whose network they were part of. In short, they were creating a forbidden use of the 2.4GHz spectrum, or in other words, regulating it.
gadvice123

join:2004-09-16
Salt Lake City, UT

PRIVATE dorm

They could just ban routers and AP's. Last time I checked, those were wern't classified as the "2.4GHz spectrum". Anyway...

Remember this was a PRIVATE dorm, not owned by the University with PRIVATE DSL and Cable internet. Some of the people living inthe dorm are not even students.
amdfanboy

join:2004-09-15
Rowlett, TX

Re: PRIVATE dorm

Hmm, I didn't know that. In that case I am glad they stopped and I don't even see how they did it in the first place. I thought this was on campus with campus Internet.

PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:
If its off site then why do they care?
--
Final Fantasy

Mem

join:2002-01-03
USA
·AT&T Southeast

"Residency at Waterview Park Apartments is restricted to UTD students, faculty, staff, and their respective spouses and children."

»www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/h···dex.html
jazzy112

join:2003-12-05
Fargo, ND

FCC Just protecting their right

to charge enormously high prices for the licensed frequencies.

Some of you are thinking, WTF? If someone were allowed to regulate an unregulated frequency, that would reduce the interest in licensing. Because, If an ISP and a Realator were to Join forces they could tell enough people where to shove it, without paying for the license.
SanJoseNerd
Premium
join:2002-07-24
San Jose, CA

What debate?

The cited FCC document specifically states that colleges and universities cannot prohibit the use of devices and antennas which are otherwise permitted by FCC rules. This is a rare case where an FCC ruling is actually crystal clear. I don't see how there can be any debate.

calvoiper

join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA

Re: What debate?

Read closely the language at the bottom of page 2 of the PDF file.

"By their terms, these rules apply, among other things, to customer antennas - one meter or less in size - used for transmitting and/or receiving any fixed wireless signal of any commercial nonbroadcast communications signal that is transmitted via wireless technology to or from a customer location." (Emphasis added.) The "commercial" requirement is repeated in the next sentence as well. Additionally, it's not "to or from" a customer location--it's "within" a customer location.

If you're buying Internet access from a WISP, I think this language covers your connection point. If, however, you are just using your own Wi-Fi setup to connect with service you already have, it's not commercial communications because you aren't paying someone for the wireless service involved. (And before you start paying $1 to your neighbor and collecting 1$ from him, recall that commercial wireless service requires FCC approval....)

(For clarity, "broadcast" as used in these FCC rules means transmitted for intended reception by multiple users. A transmission for intended reception by a single receiver is a "nonbroadcast" transmission.)

Calvoiper
--
VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies!

exocet_cm
Support Your FOP - Crescent Lodge No2
Premium
join:2003-03-23
New Orleans, LA
clubs:
·Cox HSI
·Suddenlink
·Cingular Wireless
·AT&T Southeast
·Charter Pipeline
·Network Telephone ..

Obsolutely...

freakin funny!

"There's still some debate over whether or not a landlord owns the airwaves that traverse his property"

HAHA!!! I demand that you keep your airwaves away from my land!
--

I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us.
Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc

korym
Go Wisp's
ExMod 1999-03
join:1999-12-23
Richmond, VA
clubs:

Lots of controversy?

Seems like a lot of posts here reflect the same type of controversy on the hotspots discussion list, archived at:

»www.mail-archive.com/hotspots%40···016.html

Did the University have the right to try to control a federally-mandated ruling, i.e. the FCC's Part 15? On the other hand, if the University owns the apartments, could they enforce rules that do not utilize Part 15, i.e. outside OTARD's jurisdiction?

Interesting.

Regards,
Kory
--
WISP & Wi-Fi Hotspot Industry News
Forums » U. Texas Backs Off Wi-Fi Ban


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