More shakeups...it's a climate of change...

Today saw the surprise exit of Clearwire's CEO, as well as reporting that Clearwire is being sued for throttling internet speeds for residential users - You may recall that Comcast went through this and it was pretty embarrassing.  I'm assuming the two items are related...  It also looks as if LEAP Wireless will be getting some new leadership -- and that could be a healthy thing for everyone.  

Speaking of healthy, if our government gets it right we may see a little reduction in taxes related to wireless services -- but I'm not holding my breath -- the Fed's performance lately has me wondering...I am very optimistic that we'll be seeing more of this though -- using wireless to assist seniors and family with health care issues -- from cell phones to applications to some research by the NIH.  As this technology becomes more ubiquitous, and as developers gather inertia, I think we're in for some super ideas that really make a difference in our lives...

One thing that's always been true in the wireless sector -- change is a constant!!!

RES

Will embracing the "New" actually take us two steps Back..?

From what I'm seeing in the news, it looks as if the demand for wireless bandwidth is creating tangible growing pains on the street.  As the insatiable appetite for more sophisticated phones, connectivity and apps blossoms, and as more users seek those "goodies" (and as technology drives price points down) the standing wireless communications infrastructure that makes it all work is being saturated.  It's not that the wireless service providers aren't trying to augment and expand their infrastructure -- it's more that the demand is accelerating and for now, is impossible to catch.

Sprint and T-Mobile are doing the consolidation dance again...and I'd argue that consolidation makes sense in this environment -- we should expect it from others as well - because it takes a certain critical mass in terms of network infrastructure "density" to serve today's wireless data demands.  It's difficult to provide great service, when the data pipes are too small and there are too many customers with phones that pull too much data for the system to accommodate.  That could be part of Verizon's problems as well...While they arguably have the best coverage, can they really support the data intensity of the iPhone?  Time will tell, but current performance seems to be lagging a bit.  It's not just call quality anymore -- data speed and reliability is now a key metric -- and as bandwidth-hungry devices are quickly gobbled up by an increasing customer base, quality of service is taking a hit.

We're also beginning to see other wireless services emerge, and as concepts are proven, there will be acceleration there as well.  There's a nice summary of several here, and if you dig for more in the web you'll be pleasantly surprised.  I'm hopeful that Obama's initiative to encourage connectivity, and the FCC's response to that (in terms of frequency shuffling) will foster quick movement in this sector...but every silver lining has it's cloud.

I think that cloud is the local development process.  In order to create the infrastructure, industry has to develop it through localities and their zoning controls -- I'm not saying that controls are bad, but I am saying that these controls vary so widely, and in places are so draconian, that creation of the infrastructure that the public demands is significantly impeded.  We've been at the wireless game now for something like 20 years...but our approach to the deployment of the infrastructure, and the regulation of that deployment has gone from bad to worse...just at the moment when we need to see a better, more efficient development process with better designed end results.  It's almost like we've painted ourselves into a corner...and as more powerful phones and devices are released and we can do more with them, our ability to really use them may be compromised by our current approach to controlling industry's deployment of the infrastructure which makes them work.  In the end, is all that control really getting our communities what they want?

RES

LightSquared, LightRadio, LightBeer...?

I keep reading in the press that LightSquared is launching in Phoenix, but here on the ground we're looking for signs of movement...and it's been quiet...too quiet.  LightSquared, where are you?

It'd be nice to see this market move forward with LightSquared -- it'd be well received...there's a tangible sense of malaise in the local economy, and we would all appreciate something positive.  I know property valuations went out recently, and every homeowner saw reductions in value that would stop a train.

On a LighterNote (sorry, couldn't help myself) -- even the sleepy planning forums picked up on the LightRadio splash, and urban planners are wondering -- will the towers go away, and should we be thinking about re-writing the ordinance?  I've been doing my part to try and get some rational thoughts in circulation, and I think Jonathan Kramer did an excellent job in his post...

I've also been surprised this week to read that newer LEEDS building standards may be creating some signal degradation for in-building coverage, directly related to the use of Low e Glass...wow, thats an unforseen and pretty ironic result...we'll see how that bounces off the planners out there.

Lastly, it's Friday, and unfortunately, I haven't figured out yet how to brew my own LightBeer...even so, I'd rather have that bottle in front of me...

Stay safe, and for goodness sakes, have some fun.

RES

Light at the end of the tunnel for LightSquared

Breaking news -- there may be some good news for LightSquared...if one can believe what's popping up on the net.

Let's hope it's true, even though it's unclear at this point what LightSquared's final business position will be -- additional competition in the market, more infrastructure on the ground (and in space) and bigger data pipes for service providers to use can't be bad!

I guess the question remains, how do you pick a deployment back up that was placed on hold on a nationwide basis...and one might expect that resurrection will cost some time and money to overcome.  We'll see -- hopefully the schedule LightSquared is held to by the FCC will be realistically ammended.

RES

Public Safety moving to LTE

It's nice to see the US moving forward when it comes to technology and emergency response communications...

I can remember back in the day, right after the Columbine shooting, thinking how great it would be if emergency responders were able to have video and audio intelligence at the incident site -- and how that might save lives and quicken the resolution of tragedies.  If emergency response is able to send and receive data on scene -- and use it for voice and imagery, for intel gathering as well as command and control -- we're a short step away from being able to interface them with security systems that are installed in the site itself.  That pairing, in a wireless/mobile format, will provide them with real-time, on-site intel about the site and the incident that will make a huge difference in response and effectiveness.

When that data capability is then distributed from incident command to the guys on the front line -- there'll be real power in that information, as boots on the ground will then be able to immediately respond to changing conditions at the scene, while collaborating with incident command.  It will make a huge difference when emergency response arrives at the scene during an incident, as well as coordinating the response and resolution after the event.

RES

LightSquared's Future? -- Reply Hazy, Try Again...

It's looking like LightSquared will be needing some special flexibility from the FCC in order to move ahead, and depending on the outcome of a rather expensive interference study, may have a tough time getting on its feet.  This is unfortunate news, as the company could develop into a significant player in the industry, offering additional competition for existing providers.

The company has a satellite in space, with reported plans to launch another -- however, the business model seems to be shifting.  The request to the FCC to allow them to build terrestrial infrastructure and deploy phones that don't have the ability to communicate with their satellite may be an effort to attract a business partner and some capital.  It's no secret that the funding source for the effort has suffered downturns, and the longer it takes LightSquared to deploy and service markets the more expensive the venture's going to get.

On the ground in Phoenix, the project is on indefinite hold, and other markets also seem to be in limbo.  Interference concerns from the NTIA and others, as well as other issues, could interfere with LightSquared's ability to meet the timeline the FCC has required for them to service a given number of customers.

We're hopeful LightSquared will find a way to persevere, and we're confident the additional infrastructure as well as competition will be healthy for the market -- the question is, will existing regulation and the market allow it to materialize...?  The magic 8 Ball says, "Reply Hazy, Try Again..."

RES

Back, after a Limited Engagement Elsewhere...

After a limited appearance in Wilmington NC, and a brief detour-sabbatical in the private educational sector, Anvil Partners, LLC has re-launched to debut out west in the Phoenix MSA.

Offering support for wireless communications infrastructure, with a particular focus on local regulations and permitting, Anvil Partners will be providing the assistance folks need to tackle those issues that get in the way of improving wireless communications infrastructure.

This blog -- The Wireless Forge -- should be an entertaining and educational space for us to examine the sparks often scattered when private communications infrastructure and local regulation don't blend nicely.  Sometimes it takes a hammer, some heat, a little noise and some sweat...

RES