 ThrowDemsOutIf you can't convince 'em, confuse 'emPremium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4 |  RE:Former FCC Chair Martin Says More Fiber Will Help Wireles
"A significant amount of mobile broadband activity actually occurs indoors," Martin said. "That should be gotten off-net quicker."
For instance, he said he might sit on the couch in his house and look something up online using his cell phone, which doesn't have Wi-Fi. Rather than use that valuable cellular spectrum, he could instead free up that bandwidth for mobile customers by using his Wi-Fi network, either from a capable phone or his laptop.
He implied that regulations could help encourage the use of Wi-Fi and wireline networks when possible. "We should make sure we're thinking about ways, that we have policies that try to make sure we utilize spectrum in the most effective way possible," he said. "And that includes getting things off-net." More & more smartphones have WiFi built-in and that would do what Martin suggests. But I am not sure how the FCC has the authority to make that a regulation. They could encourage it, but not force it.
Most of my internet access from my smartphone is thru a WiFi connection. Some at home and some at friends houses or in a restaurant, or doctors or dentists office or auto dealer awaiting maintenance, etc. The wireless companies could encourage this trend by just reselling phones with WiFi on them, but they make more money by NOT encouraging this trend. |
