CA EVENT: Pervasive Connectivity

As Internet access moves increasingly to mobile platforms, control over access to the public airwaves will determine whether wireless broadband networks are closed, costly and channelized - or open, affordable and innovative. The conventional wisdom in Washington is that spectrum is scarce and must be auctioned as exclusive licenses. The reality is emerging technologies and business models that allow shared, opportunistic and unlicensed access to an abundance of bandwidth for all.

This forum reviewed the technologies and policy debates at the center of this battle over the airwaves. The FCC will decide this fall whether to open the vacant TV channels in each market for shared, unlicensed use. But there is far more unused "white space" across the spectrum that can be unlocked with 'smart' radios and smarter policies. Among the benefits of open spectrum is more open networks - as well as facilitating a movement toward community networking that can greatly narrow digital divides in rural and disadvantaged areas.

This policy forum is co-sponsored by Google and the New America Foundation/Wireless Future Program.

Agenda

• Michael Calabrese (PowerPoint Presentation, PDF, 32 pps.)
  Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation
• Paul Kolodzy
  Kolodzy Consulting, Former Chair, FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force
• Mark McHenry (PowerPoint Presentation, PDF, 13 pps.)
  CEO and Founder, Shared Spectrum Co.

• Tim Wu
  Professor, Columbia Law School & Chairman, Free Press
• Larry Alder
  Google
• Sascha Meinrath (PowerPoint Presentation, PDF, 18 pps.) and (PowerPoint Presentation, PDF, 13 pps.)
  Research Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation

• Rey Ramsey
  CEO & Co-Founder, One Economy Corp
• Mark Ansboury
  SVP & Chief Technology Officer, OneCommunity

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