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Impacts of Regulation and Policy on the Wireless Future
February 2006
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About This Report
Wireless Futures often focuses on technology developments and potential killer applications that are important for making wise decisions about R&D and business development. Such decisions also depend on trends in government regulations, policies, laws, and judicial cases. This report provides insight into key government-related issues that affect progress in wireless technology and infrastructure development. Regulations often speed up infrastructure development (such as the rules that establish unlicensed spectrum slots for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi). Conversely, regulations also protect incumbent network operators, preventing new technologies from delivering important benefits (as in the case of laws forbidding delivery of wireless Internet service by some public utilities). Effective product developers and market developers need to be well informed about governance of communications networks in order to take advantage of opportunities, craft products and services that can succeed despite regulatory restrictions, and provide corporate government-relations staff with input about strategies and needed reforms.
Although many regulatory issues—notably, censorship, eavesdropping, sales tax on cross-border e-commerce, and government franchises—are important to the future of the Internet, the following issues appear to have the most significance for the future of wireless communications:
- VoIP. Rules aren't fully established and are changing. But recent events suggest that ISPs will be free to block VoIP calls unless users pay extra. If so, network operators (especially wireless networks) may also charge extra to allow users to stream audio and video, including collaborative videoconferencing.
- The Internet and the Google controversy. Recently, some telcos have complained that Google is having a "free ride" on their networks. Network operators may impair Google searches unless users pay for fast delivery—or governments may require that network operators treat all Web sites equally.
- Analog-TV spectrum. Governments are struggling to execute a transition from analog TV to digital TV. Debate has begun about wisest use of the spectrum that will become available when analog broadcasts end.
- Ultrawideband (UWB) communications. A new technology has the potential to increase greatly the bit-carrying capacity of wireless-communications channels. But the technology is extremely disruptive to existing businesses and governments. Nobody knows when—or if—regulators will permit wide-area UWB communications.
- Wireless public utilities. Opposing parties are debating whether publicly owned wireless networks will, in the end, speed up or slow down wireless-infrastructure development.
- Geolocation for emergency services. Governments and cellular-service companies (cellcos) are trying to find policies and market strategies that will let emergency-service workers quickly find mobile users who call for help. Policy issues include lax enforcement of existing regulations, cellco reluctance to spend money on mandated requirements, emergency call centers' lack of readiness for new technology upgrades, and concerns about personal privacy.
We welcome feedback about this report and the program, and we encourage you to contact us with any questions or suggestions. For more information, contact Michael Gold at telephone: +1 650 859 6354; fax: +1 650 859 4544; e-mail: mgold@sric-bi.com. We appreciate your support of our program and look forward to working closely with you as a Wireless Futures sponsor.
Table of Contents
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| About This Report |
ii |
| Summary and Conclusions |
1 |
| VoIP |
5 |
| The Internet and the Google Controversy |
8 |
| Analog-TV Spectrum |
11 |
| Ultrawideband Communications |
16 |
| Wireless Public Utilities |
20 |
| Geolocation for Emergency Services |
23 |
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