[January 05, 2009]

The Creston News Advertiser, Iowa, Valarie Allen column: Free Internet ? is it in our future?

Jan 05, 2009 (The Creston News Advertiser - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
It may come sooner than we think -- free broadband Internet service.
The Federal Communication Commission is pushing free broadband Internet service for the entire country.

Free? I've always heard there is no free lunch.
I read an article that said there could be a one-time fee for endless Internet access.
What price will we pay?
The FCC proposal is to utilize some of the broadband frequencies that will soon become available once television signals move from analog to digital.

One of the stipulations in the FCC proposal is for content filtering.
Some advocacy agencies say the service should be free of government censorship.
T-Mobile, a cellular phone service, is opposed to the project claiming interference with their current frequencies.

Others voicing concerns worry about interference with sound systems.
New technology cited in an FCC report states that the use of wireless transmitters relying on spectrum sensing and "geo locations" devices would detect and avoid nearby broadband signals.

There should be enough frequency levels to go around.
The FCC proposal also includes using some the white spaces for improved communications networks for emergency and security responders.

There have been designated frequencies for specific use for as long as I can remember.
Most of those frequencies are on a lower bandwidth.
Using a higher bandwidth would create a better signal that would be able to reach greater distances.

The thought of free Internet access provided by the federal government seems to be a positive move toward increasing technology.

As a national technology standard is being developed for school students, the increased accessibility will greatly improve students' opportunities to use more technologies.

It's the wave of the future, and every student needs to be prepared for entering the workforce with technology skills in place.

I was reading about a program that has provided laptops to students who have long bus rides so they can better utilize the time spent commuting to and from school.

The program allows students to study and earn credits in subjects such as math, science and technology.

If nationwide Internet were made available, these students could also be doing research projects on the Internet.

The broadband frequencies that will be freed when analog television is no longer available are the best bandwidths for wireless connectivity because they can pass through walls.

Although T-Mobile is objecting to the proposal there are other large companies that see a great advantage in making wireless Internet free.

Microsoft, Google, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Phillips Electronics are all members of the White Spaces Coalition, which back the FCC proposal.

Of Course, they may stand to profit with the increased sale of wireless devices.
I'm not afraid of technology, and I appreciate the convenience.
In this day and age, younger generations have grown up in a connected world and are best suited for advancing technology.

With more connectivity, technology will be more readily available to all, and not just a select class.

Valarie Allen can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 233 or vallen@crestonnews.com
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