Blog | News & Information on Wireless Services & Telecommunications
Posted: 01/31/12 by Jonathan Spalter
On Capitol Hill today lawmakers discussed the urgent need to address spectrum capacity to meet exploding consumer demand for wireless connectivity. And not a moment too soon. In today’s wireless market, data-intensive mobile devices are gobbling bandwidth at an astounding rate, literally sucking the oxygen out of the wireless ecosystem. In fact, the FCC’s own data shows the U.S. exhausting its current supply of mobile spectrum by 2013.
It’s critical that policymakers move immediately to sustain the pace of mobile innovation and investment in the United States. And one of the more immediate ways they can do is to move ahead now with voluntary spectrum auctions. Implementing a spectrum auction process that is open to all stakeholders will continue to fuel economic recovery and help ensure that consumers will have enough spectrum to meet exponentially growing demand in today’s competitive wireless market.
It is well documented that the expansion of licensed wireless broadband networks and services is driving economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing productivity. In fact, a study released last week by economists Robert Shapiro and Kevin Hassett indicated the transition from 2G to 3G created almost 1.6 million jobs between April 2007 and June 2011, and the build out of 4G should add over 230,000 new U.S. jobs by the end of this year.
Now is the time for leadership. Policymakers on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and in the Administration must work together to chart a clear path to address the nation's immediate spectrum deficit. More than 300 million wireless consumers are waiting. And the clock is ticking.
Posted: 01/27/12 by Mobile Future Team
As The Washington Post recently reported, a new study by mobile network firm Arieso looks at the increased data usage by iPhone 4S users and found that the latest iPhone uses twice as much data as the iPhone 4 and almost three times as much data as the iPhone 3G.
Paul Farhi writes in the article:
“In all, Arieso says that the Siri-equipped iPhone 4S “appears to unleash data consumption behaviors that have no precedent.”
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 01/23/12 by Mobile Future Team
Check out Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter’s latest op-ed in The Hill on the immediate need to free-up more mobile spectrum to meet exponentially growing demand here.
Posted: 12/15/11 by Mobile Future Team
In 2011, the mobile space saw profound growth and a vast array of new wireless innovations and services emerge. Our annual video, The 2011 Mobile Year in Review, takes a look at the major accomplishments and ground-breaking developments in the wireless space this year. For a more in-depth view of the mobile landscape in 2011, see our accompanying paper 2011 Mobile Year in Review.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 12/01/11 by Mobile Future Team
Today, the House Energy & Commerce Communications & Technology Subcommittee marked up legislation to authorize voluntary spectrum auctions to repurpose broadcast spectrum for mobile use.
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter responded to the legislation, stating:
"We appreciate Chairman Walden and the subcommittee’s efforts today to move legislation forward to make additional wireless spectrum available to keep pace with exploding consumer demand. With the FCC predicting a spectrum crunch by 2013 for the nation’s 300 million wireless consumers, the clock is ticking. We strongly urge Congress to enact legislation to bring more wireless spectrum online as quickly as possible."
To read the full statement, click here.
Posted: 11/17/11
Read Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter’s column in The Wall Street Journal explaining why we need to repurpose broadcast spectrum to meet growing mobile demand here.
Posted: 11/15/11 by Mobile Future Team
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction urging the Committee to call for voluntary spectrum auctions to meet growing consumer demand, reduce the deficit and spur lasting economic recovery and job creation.
To learn more, click here.
Posted: 10/19/11 by Mobile Future Team
Today, the Federal Communications Commission released a new infographic that outlines the need for more spectrum.
As the FCC stated in a press release:
“The infographic also illustrates the current mobile explosion and, consequently, the looming spectrum crunch whereby demand for spectrum is rapidly outstripping supply. Failure to free up more spectrum for mobile broadband will stifle innovation and result in higher prices for consumers and growing network congestion.”
To view the infographic and learn more, click here.
Posted: 09/22/11 by Jonathan Spalter
In the upcoming election year, virtually every American will be a 'single-issue voter,' going to the ballot box with the nation's economy and their own job prospects top of mind. It's critical that leaders on both sides of the partisan divide recognize that U.S. mobile policy is a poster-child for just the sort of forward momentum the President and leaders in Congress are seeking to gather to get the nation back on a healthy and sustainable job growth track.
President Obama and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski have amassed a strong track record in support of mobile innovation, which today puts 2.4 million Americans to work. The crown jewel of these efforts has been their press for more spectrum to power the next wave of mobile Internet-fueled growth.
And, particularly with the Department of Justice's recent aggressive stance with regard to the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, all eyes are on what comes next: Will U.S. innovation policies become more restrictive or continue to build on the proven success of consumer-guided progress coupled with light-touch regulation? As we look for answers that can create jobs and drive innovation, here are five key questions to watch:
Will consumers get more spectrum for the mobile Internet? President Obama and Chairman Genachowski are right to make today's spectrum crunch a national priority. A recent report by Credit Suisse finds that U.S. wireless networks run at 80% of capacity on a typical day, well above our global competitors. And, this isn't a race we want to win. Analysis by Peter Rysavy finds that without additional spectrum, U.S. wireless networks will run out of capacity within four years. There is no higher innovation policy priority than averting such a disastrous--and avoidable--outcome.
Will policymakers make the connection between spectrum and jobs? If the President is successful in his push for an additional 500 MHz of spectrum to support the mobile Internet, we can create 500,000 American jobs and add $400 billion to the nation's GDP. And, that forecast doesn't include the biggest job creator of all--the 'X-factor' of the next Facebook or Google--that will inevitably arise out of a more spectrum-rich environment. All the government needs to do to nurture this growth (and raise billions in auction proceeds for the U.S. Treasury) is put more spectrum up for sale.
Will the markets see a balanced outcome for AT&T/T-Mo? The Department of Justice's challenge to the AT&T-T-Mobile merger has been met with pointed expressions of concern from Silicon Valley to Wall Street. Matt Murphy of respected Sand Hill Road VC firm Kleiner Perkins noted the move has put tech investment "in stalemate mode." The Administration is right to ask tough questions about the merger. But its ability to avoid a protracted court battle and deliver a timely and constructive outcome will signal to the markets that a steady hand is at the economic helm.
Will regulators' definition of competition keep pace with the market? Even with a combined AT&T/T-Mo, American consumers have far more choices for their mobile service than most of our country's leading global competitors. Many other benchmarks must come into play to get a true gauge of competition. Case in point: The recent revelation that Sprint, with its Clearwire assets, has more spectrum holdings in an average city than both Verizon and a combined AT&T and T-Mobile. This puts into a whole new light Sprint's vocal objections to the merger on the grounds that its market rival doesn't need more spectrum. Clearly, it does to compete.
Will jobs policy value the role of small tech entrepreneurs? Over the past 15 years, small firms created 64% of new jobs in this country.[1] In the tech industry, 40% of workers are employed by small businesses. Without adequate spectrum, these innovators won't have the opportunity to create the next best thing--or the jobs that come with it.
At the beginning of the year, President Obama used his State of the Union address to call on policymakers to "make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans." Now is the time for our leaders--in the Administration and on Capitol Hill--to take concrete steps to make good on that promise and send a clear signal to the market that U.S. innovation policy will remain steady, balanced and constructive. They should start by recognizing that our nation's jobs policy and our innovation policy must be one and the same.
Jonathan Spalter, chairman of Mobile Future, has been founding CEO of leading technology, media, and research companies, including Public Insight, Snocap, and Atmedica Worldwide. He served as an advisor to and spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration.
Mobile Future is a 501(c)(4) coalition comprised of and supported by technology businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to advocating for an environment in which innovations in wireless technology and services are enabled and encouraged. For a full list of members and sponsors and to learn more about the coalition, go to www.mobilefuture.org.
This article was originally published on Huffington Post.
Posted: 09/19/11 by Mobile Future Team
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter sent a letter to Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council, encouraging the Obama Administration to swiftly make more wireless spectrum available in both the short- and long-term to meet exploding consumer demand, fuel our technology-driven economy and continue to unleash investment and innovation.
To learn more, click here.
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Tags: Consumer Awareness, Consumer Benefits, FCC, Innovation, Mobile Future, Mobile Future Board, Jonathan Spalter, News, Spectrum, Wireless Innovation, Looming Spectrum Crisis