Hi All,<br><br>Sorry if this posting is too far off-topic for the list, but I've gotten emails from both Daily Kos and Freepress soliciting comments to the FCC in favor of opening up some more spectrum for unlicensed or quasi-licensed used.  Specifically for the TV Whitespace (TVWS) band.<br>
<br><a href="http://www.freepress.net/blog/2013/02/06/free-public-wi-fi-possible">http://www.freepress.net/blog/2013/02/06/free-public-wi-fi-possible</a><br><a href="http://campaigns.dailykos.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=322&tag=0216dailykos">http://campaigns.dailykos.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=322&tag=0216dailykos</a><br>
<br>These email campaigns appear to have been motivated by this recent story in the Washington Post:<br><br><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/tech-telecom-giants-take-sides-as-fcc-proposes-large-public-wifi-networks/2013/02/03/eb27d3e0-698b-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/tech-telecom-giants-take-sides-as-fcc-proposes-large-public-wifi-networks/2013/02/03/eb27d3e0-698b-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_story.html</a><br>
<br>Whatever furor engendered by the original article had lead to the WaPo writer to publish a follow-up clarification, but naturally that follow-up is behind a paywall:<br><br><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/five-things-to-know-about-public-wifi/2013/02/05/de284af0-6fd8-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/five-things-to-know-about-public-wifi/2013/02/05/de284af0-6fd8-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html</a><br>
<br>Indeed, unlicensed use is a perennial topic for US spectrum regulation (and good 
that it remains as such), but I'm having some difficultly looking up 
just <i>what recent action</i> the FCC took which has motivated WaPo, Freepress, Daily Kos, and Slate to spin up their metaphorical presses.  Anyone one on the list more informed 
about this?<br clear="all"><br>Incidentally, this was the comment to the FCC which I submitted:<br><br>"The few instances of broadcast spectrum being opened up for unlicensed use, e.g. with 802.11-style Wi-Fi, have all helped create new, niche markets to exploit that spectrum.  Please allow this economic growth, often benefiting small businesses, to continue!"<br>
<br>-- <br>Ben West<div><a href="http://gowasabi.net" target="_blank">http://gowasabi.net</a><br><a href="mailto:ben@gowasabi.net" target="_blank">ben@gowasabi.net</a><br>314-246-9434<br></div>