Wireless at its worst

[IcEbLAze]

They're trying to bring wireless internet services to areas that wouldn't otherwise have it. It costs money to do this; quite reasonably, they expect to make money from providing this service. There's no major difference between this and your ISP charging you each month for, say, your DSL.

Ya, currently I work for a wireless internet/kiosk company in the los angeles area, we put wifi in "hot" areas as well as areas that are pretty dead, alot along highways and in bunk cities. Anyways, we charge $30/month unlimited wifi access at ALL of our hotspot areas, you can't really beat that price given that you get unlimited wifi access, no matter where you go where one of our hotspots are at, for the same price you would paying dsl month to month with sbc yahoo! (not to mention we have better broadband in most areas) ;)

[phobal]

Not exactly. If they were, there would be no government management or licensing of the RF spectrum. Yes, anyone can theoretically access it, but there are hoops that have to be jumped through before you can (legitimately) be turned loose on most bands. ISM is something of an exception (at least as far as licensing goes), but there are still restrictions placed on that band relating to usage; FRS and CB are other similar examples.



Right, but go back and re-read what I wrote. The key paragraph is the one that starts, "From reading what's on their site, it appears as though what they're trying to do is get those governments to licence the frequencies to them..." It's not ownership, it's a licence - which will ultimately expire, and can be revoked if necessary - but more importantly can be renewed, which means more money from the companies for the governments. Most governments would be reluctant to sell something off that they can profit from regulating in the way the RF spectrum is regulated.

Of course. I don't object to the licensing of it. Regulation is the best route, but I was just pointing out that the consummate privitization of radio frequencies is truly a horrific move.

[skroo]

Radio waves are in the public domain.

Not exactly. If they were, there would be no government management or licensing of the RF spectrum. Yes, anyone can theoretically access it, but there are hoops that have to be jumped through before you can (legitimately) be turned loose on most bands. ISM is something of an exception (at least as far as licensing goes), but there are still restrictions placed on that band relating to usage; FRS and CB are other similar examples.

Sure, profit off using them, but I think the objection is OWNING them.

Right, but go back and re-read what I wrote. The key paragraph is the one that starts, "From reading what's on their site, it appears as though what they're trying to do is get those governments to licence the frequencies to them..." It's not ownership, it's a licence - which will ultimately expire, and can be revoked if necessary - but more importantly can be renewed, which means more money from the companies for the governments. Most governments would be reluctant to sell something off that they can profit from regulating in the way the RF spectrum is regulated.

[phobal]

As for calling them the "enemy of free wireless and internet access for all" - that's just ridiculous. They're trying to bring wireless internet services to areas that wouldn't otherwise have it. It costs money to do this; quite reasonably, they expect to make money from providing this service. There's no major difference between this and your ISP charging you each month for, say, your DSL.

I think the concern is the privitization and ownership of radio signals. Radio waves are in the public domain. Sure, profit off using them, but I think the objection is OWNING them.

[skroo]

I am currently investigating a small "group" that I have recently herd about called the oakhill group. They are the enemy of free wireless and internet access for all. I thought every one should should check this out.

I looked at it, and really it only appears as though they're yet another business trying to figure out a way to make money from land-based wireless services in areas that can't get wired broadband. There's hundreds of similar ventures out there ranging from small businesses such as this to large corporations.

As for calling them the "enemy of free wireless and internet access for all" - that's just ridiculous. They're trying to bring wireless internet services to areas that wouldn't otherwise have it. It costs money to do this; quite reasonably, they expect to make money from providing this service. There's no major difference between this and your ISP charging you each month for, say, your DSL.

I dont think it would be good for them to last long !!!

Why? So that the people they would have brought affordable broadband access to can continue to live with dialup or ISDN?

they are not only dooing research they are currently convincing forign goverments to sell them large groups of frequencys

From reading what's on their site, it appears as though what they're trying to do is get those governments to licence the frequencies to them - much the same as happens in the US currently. Also, I notice that they keep referencing the ITFS/MMDS bands, not ISM (which is where 802.11 currently resides). And with HDTV becoming mandatory later this decade, ITFS may end up being completely reworked anyway, thus freeing up its frequency space for other uses.

One other thing to consider: RF spectrum regulations can vary widely outside of the US. While using ITFS (which is intended for low-power local broadcasts from schools and colleges to the surrounding communities) for a commercial use like this may appear to be rather distasteful, there may be no equivalent to ITFS in other countries.

if any one else finds this serious I have a copy of one of there recent http://www.oakhillgroup.biz/

To me, this isn't a big deal. It's just someone trying to make a buck by providing wide-area wireless broadband services; hell, a friend of mine has an ISP doing that here in Socal and I can think of two others I know about in other parts of the country doing exactly the same thing. It doesn't affect the ability of anyone to offer free wireless Internet access if they want to, say, leave an AP open for public use - which I suspect is what you may have been thinking of. What they're talking about using is an entirely different, incompatible technology intended specifically for wide-area wireless networking.

[murakami]

Yes indeed, once it gets rolling.

Once they get it working as promised.

[kree]

Think about what 802.16 is going to be like... Sweet Jesus. Cat fight to the fullest.

Yes indeed, once it gets rolling.

[IcEbLAze]

Did you actually read who they are and what they do


Why, it seems to me that they are working on some issues that would not be of concern to most.


This is what all of your major wireless companies do in the usa its called bidding for coverage.

Think about what 802.16 is going to be like... Sweet Jesus. Cat fight to the fullest.

[kree]

I am currently investigating a small "group" that I have recently herd about called the oakhill group. They are the enemy of free wireless and internet access for all. I thought every one should should check this out.

Did you actually read who they are and what they do

I dont think it would be good for them to last long !!!

Why, it seems to me that they are working on some issues that would not be of concern to most.

they are not only dooing research they are currently convincing forign goverments to sell them large groups of frequencys

This is what all of your major wireless companies do in the usa its called bidding for coverage.

[Fluidicslave]

I am currently investigating a small "group" that I have recently herd about called the oakhill group. They are the enemy of free wireless and internet access for all. I thought every one should should check this out.

I dont think it would be good for them to last long !!!


they are not only dooing research they are currently convincing forign goverments to sell them large groups of frequencys

if any one else finds this serious I have a copy of one of there recent http://www.oakhillgroup.biz/