| All over the world ubiquitous broadband Internet | | | | broadband wireless Internet, which would of |
| access is bringing countries closer together. It | | | | course bring about new products and services |
| surprises many when they find out that in China | | | | both obvious and unknown. This type of |
| the average citizen has access to much faster | | | | legislature is designed to take fast, decisive action |
| download speeds and at a much lower cost than | | | | and correct an obvious problem. This of course |
| the average American. Of course the Chinese | | | | means it will be delayed. So where are our ground |
| have to deal with the fact that they are viewing | | | | breaking bills now?: |
| a censored Internet, but even that is getting | | | | H.R.1597 - To require the FCC to issue a final |
| better everyday. In Europe a person would be | | | | order regarding television white spaces. |
| hard pressed to find a place they COULDN'T | | | | Sponsor: Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] (introduced 3/20 |
| connect wirelessly to the Internet, while in the US | | | | 2007) |
| users must go to a specific coffee shop or airport | | | | Latest Major Action: 3/21/2007 Referred to |
| to do the same thing. It appears that the United | | | | House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the |
| States is behind the curve in offering affordable | | | | Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the |
| Internet access to its citizens, and short of | | | | Internet. |
| socialized services, so what can be done? | | | | S.234 - A bill to require the FCC to issue a final |
| U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) introduced the | | | | order regarding television white spaces. |
| Wireless Innovation Act of 2007 early this year | | | | Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 1/9 |
| to try and close the gap between the United | | | | 2007) |
| States and other countries in the area of | | | | Latest Major Action: 1/9/2007 Referred to |
| broadband Wireless Internet penetration within the | | | | Senate committee. Status: Read twice and |
| consumer market. This very closely resembles | | | | referred to the Committee on Commerce, |
| the Wireless Innovation Act of 2006 sponsored | | | | Science, and Transportation. |
| by John Kerry (WINN) which failed to pass the | | | | It is clear the decisive bill isn't exactly tearing its |
| previous year but has been reintroduced as well. | | | | way through the hallowed halls of the House and |
| Specifically the bill is intended to "make use of | | | | Senate. Of course bills take time to pass, and |
| spectrum in the gaps or 'white spaces' between | | | | there is a lot of pork to be added to this one yet |
| broadcast channels two and 51 when the | | | | so we still have time. So why exactly is this bill |
| transition from analog to digital television is | | | | important to the United States if its just going to |
| complete in two years. With the capacity to | | | | let its citizens surf the Internet more easily? John |
| transmit data over longer distances with less | | | | Kerry said, "The bill would serve communities |
| power, this prime spectrum, now reserved | | | | large and small, enabling the delivery of broadband |
| primarily for television broadcasting, could support | | | | that will connect business owners with their |
| a wide range of innovative wireless devices and | | | | customers, students with dynamic new learning |
| services that aren't useable in other frequencies", | | | | resources and first responders with victims in |
| says Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) who is also | | | | crisis." With that in mind, the bill seems a bit more |
| co-sponsoring the bill. | | | | relevant to the county as something more than |
| WINN '07 could be the ticket the country needs | | | | an entertainment device. |
| to increase the consumer market penetration of | | | | |